Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 9
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkey's former interior minister, Muammer Guler, is not going to take part in the parliamentary election to be held in June, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported Feb. 9 citing Guler.
Guler said he managed to do a lot for Turkey during his tenure as the interior minister between 2011 and 2013.
The ex-minister said that after the 2013 corruption scandal in Turkey, he voluntarily resigned and urged the parliament to establish a special commission to investigate the events that led to the scandal.
On Feb. 6, the ex-minister of economy, Zafer Caglayan also said he would not participate in the upcoming parliamentary election.
The representatives of 31 political parties will take part in the parliamentary elections to be held in Turkey on June 7.
According to the Turkish law, those who want to take part in the parliamentary election must leave their positions until Feb. 10.
During the parliamentary election, which took place in Turkey in 2011, the ruling Justice and Development Party gained 46.66 percent of the vote.
Some 20.85 percent of the vote went to the Republican People's Party (CHP), and 14.29 percent of the vote was collected by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Turkish police held 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.
These 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.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu