We will be ineligible in 2015 election, says Turkish Deputy PM

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Arınç said politics was not confined only to Parliament, but could also be done through ways that bring peace to people. DHA photo

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has said he will be among a series of high-ranking ruling party officials, including the prime minister, who will not be eligible to run for the 2015 election, in line with the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) own regulations.

In a televised interview with broadcaster Habertürk, Arınç ruled out any alterations to the party guidelines, which exclude over 70 party officials from the upcoming elections, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“Whether we want to or not, it’s the rule,” he said. “For me, I can’t wait for that day. I’ve been in politics since I was 19 or 20. There is an absolute benefit to giving a break now. This is also the politics renewing itself as well. If God allows it, we will not be in the 2015 elections. I personally don’t plan to be in any, be they local or parliamentary. That’s what I think.”

Arınç also added that politics was not confined only to Parliament, but could also be done through ways that "bring peace to people." “I think that can be done anywhere and anytime. Hopefully there is good in that. The AKP will succeed again, there will be very good people taking over, and we will be happy about that,” he said. 

No pardon for Öcalan

Arınç also spoke about the ongoing peace process during the interview, where he ruled out any possible pardoning for the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, despite rumors.

“None of us, as a government member, consider a pardon. I can tell that in sincerity. No one in this process that has been linked to Öcalan, not even Öcalan has mentioned pardoning. If you follow it daily you will see that none of the strong actors of the process have mentioned a pardon. No such thing is in the agenda right now,” Arınç said.

Arınç added that the process was yet to be completed, despite reports claiming the PKK withdrawal had ended.

“When you look at these people, some say the withdrawal has ended. No, it has not. The prime minister is right about this. We have intelligence enough to understand who has left, from where they have left,” Arınç said, adding that around 20 percent of the PKK presence in the country had left the country so far.