President Erdoğan unhappy with Turkish spy chief's resignation

ISTANBUL – Agence France-Presse

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Feb. 8 he was unhappy with the decision of powerful intelligence chief Hakan Fidan to resign from his post and stand for parliament in June elections.
      
"I do not view Hakan Fidan's candidacy positively," Erdoğan said in televised comments at Istanbul airport before heading on a visit to Latin America.
      
Erdoğan said that he had made his opinion on the matter clear to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu but said the premier had the final say.
      
"I said this to the respected prime minister. I am saying this openly and clearly. But this is a decision of the respected prime minister and the government.
     
"I cannot interfere," Erdoğan added.
     
Widely seen as one of Turkey's most powerful figures, Fidan served as head of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT) since 2010 and has always been regarded as one of the closest allies of Erdogan.
      
Fidan, who rarely speaks in public, has made no comment on the matter since his resignation was first reported late on Friday.