Bülent Arınç: Erdoğan cannot run if elections are on schedule

Former Turkish Parliament Speaker Bülent Arınç has made a notable statement regarding President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's potential candidacy in future elections. Arınç, speaking after a meeting with Erdoğan following the AKP's Sapanca camp, indicated that Erdoğan would be constitutionally ineligible to run for a third term if the elections proceed as scheduled.

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If the election is held at its normal time, our President cannot be a candidate. There is only one condition for this.

"If the election is held at its normal time, our President cannot be a candidate. There is only one condition for this," Arınç stated, referring to the necessity of a parliamentary decision to renew the elections. He elaborated that Erdoğan's eligibility for another term hinges entirely on the Grand National Assembly of Turkey voting to bring the elections forward.

Arınç suggested that Erdoğan could also play a decisive role in selecting a successor if he himself were not to run. He noted that the AKP was founded on principles of sacrifice and selflessness. To illustrate this, Arınç recalled the political solidarity during the party's formation, citing Abdullah Gül's decision to hand over the prime ministership to Erdoğan after the 2002 elections, when Erdoğan was barred from politics.

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If the election is held at its normal time, our President cannot be a candidate. There is only one condition for this.

Responding to statements from Devlet Bahçeli and AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik affirming Erdoğan as their candidate, Arınç described these declarations as politically normal moves aimed at halting internal debates. "Declaring this today is perhaps to cut off some discussions," Arınç commented, expressing agreement with Çelik on this point.

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Declaring this today is perhaps to cut off some discussions.

When directly asked if Erdoğan was his preferred candidate, Arınç refrained from naming anyone specifically. He emphasized the founding principles of the AKP, stating, "Our AK Party was founded on sacrifice, on self-sacrifice." He reiterated that if Erdoğan wished to run again and circumstances allowed, parliamentary efforts would be needed to advance the election date, requiring a 360-vote majority.

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Our AK Party was founded on sacrifice, on self-sacrifice.