Gul Implies to Further Presidential Candidacy

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul held a press conference this noon, where he implied that his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections in the newly elected parliament would stand.

"The early elections on July 22 were a result of the former parliament's inability to elect a new president. So, now I hope and expect that all parties would respect the people's will as surfaced at the poll", he said.

Ruling Development and Justice Party triumphed at the general elections, earning some 46 percent of the vote -which is significant as it signifies a further 10 percent with regard to the results in 2002.

Gul had been posed as the party's presidential candidate last May. Strong opposition from the rival People's Republican Party (CHP) as well as from the military resulted in a blocage of the election. The concrete argument against him was that his wife put on a headscarf -longtime a symbol of the conflict between the Islamists and the Kemalists.

CHP refused to join the parliamentary sitting which would commence the elections and a Supreme Court decision ruled that at least 367 MPs should be present to proceed. Although it had a clear majority, the AKP couldn't manage to gather that many MPs and the elections were nulled.

All arguments nulled

Following AKP's landslide victory last Sunday, everybody wondered if Gul would stand again as presidential candidate.

His press conference today resembled to serve as a check-point to further his candidacy in light of the new political balances. Here are some excerpts from his declarations:

* We need not to rush. There is time ahead of us before the presidential elections and all parties will negotiate, consult those who voted for them and reach a consensus on the subject. But the people made their decision last Sunday and all should respect that.

* There were two arguments last May. One said that it wouldn't be fair for a parliament headed for elections on November to elect the new president. Second put forward the poor representation of different votes in the parliament, questioning the legitimacy of it to elect a new president. Now, both these arguments are void, as we have a new parliament which represents 85 percent of the vote.

* The people have declared their will and all parties should and would respect the results of the elections and act accordingly.(EÜ)