AKP Mayoral Candidate Yıldırım Resigns as Parliamentary Speaker

Photo: Utku Uçrak - Ankara/AA

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Binali Yıldırım has resigned as the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Yıldırım is also the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) candidate for the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality in the March 31 local elections.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) İstanbul MP and head of MHP's parliamentary group Celal Adan will temporarily act as the Speaker.

Yıldırım hosted a dinner at the parliament for the previous parliamentary speakers and 27th term MPs. After the dinner, Yıldırım presented his letter of resignation to TBMM Secretary General Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoğlu.

"Election is not a political activity"

Yıldırım's nomination for the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality without resigning as the Speaker of the TBMM sparked debate in the country.

The Article 94 of the Constitution says, "The Speaker and the Deputy Speakers of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) cannot join the activities of the political party that they are a member of, in or outside of the Parliament and the discussions in the Parliament except when it is necessitated by their duty."

Yet Yıldırım did not resign from his post at the Speaker's Office and said,

"According to Article 94 of the Constitution, political activities cannot be done. We are not doing any political activity. Election is not a political activity.

"All those who will participate in the elections should resign, then. The parliament should make this regulation and end the debates.

"If we are talking about inequality, then everybody should resign; MPs, mayors, all candidates should leave their posts." (EKN/VK)