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Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run for Turkey presidency | Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run for Turkey presidency |
(35 minutes later) | |
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for Turkish president in the first direct election in August, his governing AK Party has confirmed. | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for Turkish president in the first direct election in August, his governing AK Party has confirmed. |
Mr Erdogan has been PM since 2003 but is barred from seeking a new term. | Mr Erdogan has been PM since 2003 but is barred from seeking a new term. |
In the midst of corruption allegations, critics say he has become more authoritarian, but Mr Erdogan says political foes are trying to oust him. | In the midst of corruption allegations, critics say he has become more authoritarian, but Mr Erdogan says political foes are trying to oust him. |
Turkey's largely ceremonial president was previously chosen by parliament. Mr Erdogan wants to boost its powers. | Turkey's largely ceremonial president was previously chosen by parliament. Mr Erdogan wants to boost its powers. |
In April, President Abdullah Gul ruled out a job swap with Mr Erdogan when his term ends. | In April, President Abdullah Gul ruled out a job swap with Mr Erdogan when his term ends. |
The AKP has won six consecutive elections, at national and local level, maintaining a solid base of support among the working class. | The AKP has won six consecutive elections, at national and local level, maintaining a solid base of support among the working class. |
Tuesday's announcement was greeted with loud applause by party members at a meeting in the capital, Ankara. | Tuesday's announcement was greeted with loud applause by party members at a meeting in the capital, Ankara. |
"The candidate for the 12th president is our prime minister, head of our party and Istanbul lawmaker Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Mehmet Ali Sahin, deputy AKP leader, said. | "The candidate for the 12th president is our prime minister, head of our party and Istanbul lawmaker Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Mehmet Ali Sahin, deputy AKP leader, said. |
Mr Erdogan's opponents accuse him of losing touch with ordinary people after more than a decade in power. | |
A wave of opponents rose up in May 2013 against the government's plans to convert Gezi Park in Istanbul into a replica military barracks. The prime minister called the demonstrators "capulcu"(riff-raff) - and ordered the police to retake the park. | |
Last December, prosecutors and police officers organised dawn raids against more than 50 businessmen, including the sons of three cabinet ministers - all allies of the prime minister. | |
Mr Erdogan said the park protests and the raids were each orchestrated from abroad - a reference to the Gulen movement - named after its leader, a 72-year-old Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the US. | |
Mr Gulen's Hizmet movement was unhappy with the way Mr Erdogan dealt with the Gezi Park protesters. | |
In April, Turkey said it would launch extradition proceedings against Mr Gulen. | |
He has many supporters in the police and judiciary, and has denounced moves to shut down the investigation into corruption allegations levelled against several of the prime minister's allies. | |
The Hizmet movement | |
Profile: Hizmet movement | |
Turkey country profile |