( Cihannews )- The process of the elections for Turkey's top seat has formally started on Monday. Candidacies for the 11th president of Turkey will be submitted from 9 a.m. on Monday to midnight on April 25.
Current president Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who is known as a staunchly secularist, is set to relinquish his post on May 16.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the strongest candidate for the post, said that his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will announce their presidential candidate after April 18.
Although Erdogan's ruling AKP holds a two-third majority, which will allow it to easily elect the candidate of its choice, Erdogan, the chairman of the AKP, has not revealed yet whether he will run for the post.
Erdogan has repeatedly said that they will nominate a person on whom the majority in Turkey will reach a consensus.
The only hint Erdogan gave is that the next president will be from among the ranks of the current Turkish parliament, namely, from his party.
In Turkey, the president is elected for a single seven-year term by parliament.
Erdogan is expected to decide who will run for the president following with discussion of party officials at the executive meeting on April 18.