Former President Gül won’t run for parliament: AKP spokesman

ANKARA

AA Photo

A spokesperson for the ruling party has said former President Abdullah Gül, one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), will not run for parliament in the general elections set for June.

“What we understand from his own remarks is that he won’t be a candidate in the upcoming elections,” AKP Deputy Head Beşir Atalay told reporters at a press conference on Feb. 26.

Since leaving office in late August, Gül has repeatedly expressed his intention to return to active politics, saying the only party he would do politics in was the AKP.

However, in a recent statement, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu appeared to pour cold water on the idea of Gül returning soon. 

“I met with him [Gül] last week. Our president is also talking with him, but there has not been such a request [to return to the AKP]. It is too early for the issue to be discussed right now, but there has not been any request or suggestion about it,” Davutoğlu said.

Gül often recalls that he was the one of the leaders of the political movement that paved the way for the formation of the AKP and underlines that he will always wish for the success of the party.