Turkish opposition in disagreement on Ihsanoglu’s presidential candidacy

Baku, Azerbaijan, June 28

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Disagreements are growing in Turkish oppositional Republican People's Party (CHP) over the presidential candidacy of the ex-head of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Haber7 TV channel reported on June 28.

Reportedly, the Turkish Alawites, who are supporting the party, have refused to vote for Ihsanoglu at the upcoming presidential election.

CHP is expected to nominate the MP Emine Ulker Tarhan's candidacy in the days to come, according to the report.

The presidential election in Turkey has been scheduled for August 10, 2014. If none of the candidates gains 51 percent of votes in the first round, the second round will take place on August 24.

As distinct from the previous presidential election, the Turkish president will be elected by people, but not by the parliament as of 2014, according to the results of a referendum held in 2007. The Turkish president will be elected for five-year term instead of the previous seven-year term, according to the referendum results.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc earlier said that the great support of the Turkish people and the results of the municipal elections give ground to say that the Turkish prime minister can be elected president if his candidacy is nominated.

CHP nominated the former Secretary-General of OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as a candidate for the presidential election on June 16.

The leader of the CHP, Kemal Kilicdaroglu said that Ihsanoglu is a kind of person, whose candidacy will be supported by all segments of the society.

Moreover, two more oppositional parties, namely, Grand Unity Party and the Democratic Party also intend to support his candidacy.