High-level civil servants line up to become ruling AKP candidates in June vote

ANKARA

DHA Photo

Hundreds of civil servants have appealed to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and senior executives of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to become candidates in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in June, according to a report in daily Yeni Şafak.

However, Davutoğlu is concerned about such a large number of high-level civil servants, around 700, wanting to be candidates, worried about “who will govern the state” if they become AKP candidates, the daily reported on Feb. 3. 

As a result, the AKP has reportedly put the brakes on eager civil servants, deciding to nominate a maximum of 15 senior civil servants. Among them, the nomination of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan seems almost certain, although the government is having difficulty naming a civil servant who could adequately replace Fidan and handle his wide portfolio.

According to the election calendar, civil servants have to resign by Feb. 10 at the latest if they want to run in the upcoming general elections.

In a move to embrace different ethnic and religious segments of society, a nomination for Etyen Mahçupyan, a top Armenian adviser for Davutoğlu, is also taken for granted. 

Meanwhile, the AKP plans to introduce a quota for the number of women in the June 7 parliamentary elections and nominate at least one woman in every province, while at least half of those nominees are expected to be women wearing headscarves.

Meanwhile, the former top defense procurement chief, Murad Bayar, is preparing to run in the elections as a candidate for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Yeni Şafak also reported. 

After serving as the chief of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) for the last 10 years, Bayar was removed from office in March 2014.