Intel chief begins work after abandoning active politics

ANKARA

AFP Photo

Hakan Fidan returned to work as the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) late March 10 after he withdrew his application to run for parliament for the ruling party amid an ongoing legal dispute over his return to his former post.

A decree signed by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu ordering the appointment of Fidan to the head of MİT was sent to the intelligence organization late March 10, according to news reports. They also underlined the decree will not be published in the Official Gazette as the appointment of MİT personnel is exempted from the routine.

Fidan, who resigned from his post on Feb. 10 to run in June 7 parliamentary elections, is expected to attend a meeting on the Kurdish peace process to be held at the prime ministry after a four-week break.

Fidan made his official application to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Feb. 25 but had to withdraw due to the strong opposition of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who publicly criticized the MİT chief for quitting the key position for politics.

Highly critical of Fidan’s return to MİT, opposition parties have claimed that his appointment to his former post is illegal on the basis of the law on MİT. Some opposition parties have applied to the administrative courts for the annulment of the appointment.