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Turkey’s former economy minister will not run for parliament

Türkiye Materials 6 February 2015 15:29 (UTC +04:00)
The former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan will not run for the parliamentary election
Turkey’s former economy minister will not run for parliament

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 6

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

The former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan will not run for the parliamentary election, the TV channel Al JazeraTuürk said Feb.6 with reference to the minister.

Caglayan said that information in the Turkish media in this regard is untrue.

Thirty-one political parties will take part in the parliamentary election in Turkey, which will be held June 7.

Candidates must leave their previous positions by February 10.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won 46.66 percent of the votes in the parliamentary election in Turkey, which took place in 2011. The Republican People's Party (CHP) won 20.85 percent of the votes, and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) won 14, 29 percent of the votes.

Turkish police conducted special operations in Istanbul and Ankara on December 17, 2013, resulting in the arrest of several dozen people including businessmen and the sons of some ministers. The detainees were accused of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.

Former Interior Minister Muammar Guler's son, Baris Guler, former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan's son, Salih Kaan Caglayan, the Mayor of Istanbul's Fatih Municipality Mustafa Demir, well known entrepreneur Ali Agaoglu and businessman Reza Zarrab were all arrested during the same operation by police.

All the ministers resigned after the corruption scandal.

Turkish prosecutor's office made a decision to release the detainees in February 2014. Later, a court in Turkey ruled that the confiscated funds of the ex-head of Turkish Halk Bankasi, Suleyman Aslan, would be returned. It was also decided to return the confiscated money of the ex-interior minister, Muammer Guler's son, Baris Guler.

Edited by CN

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu

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