( Cihan ) - Leading figures of Turkish business world have welcomed that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was named as the ruling party's candidate to run for president.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday announced that his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) candidate to run for the president was Abdullah Gul.
Arzuhan Yalcindag, chairwoman of Turkey's top business club Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), had already said that she personally preferred PM Erdogan to stay on as prime minister to keep economic improvement and stability.
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), another leading business club, had also opted Erdogan to say on as prime minister.
"I congratulate Prime Minister Erdogan for the democratic and mature attitude he showed for the sake of Turkey's stability," said Sabanci Group chairwoman Guler Sabanci, head of Turkey's leading conglomerate.
"This name (FM Gul) will boost the financial markets, I am sure of that," said Murat Yalcintas, chairman of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.
"Mr. Gul has the qualifications that befit the presidential seat," said Omer Bolat, head of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD).