CHP announces parliamentary speaker candidate as Ayşe Gülsün Bilgehan

The Republican People's Party (CHP) on Friday has announced its parliamentary speaker candidate as Ankara Deputy Gülsün Bilgehan.

She is the granddaughter of İsmet İnönü, the second President of Turkey and was a member of the Turkish delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) was the first party to announce their candidate, followed by the Justice and Development (AK) Party.
The Peoples' Democratic Party is still expected to announce its candidate.

Until the formation of a new government, the Republican People Party deputy Deniz Baykal is acting as the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, as the eldest member of the parliament.

The deadline for the post is midnight on Nov. 21. The speaker is voted for by the 550 deputies of the Grand National Assembly. In the first two rounds of voting, successful candidates need the support of at least 367 lawmakers.

In a third round of voting, a minimum of 276 votes is needed. If a fourth round is necessary the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected.

The AK Party holds 317 seats in parliament while the Republican People's Party (CHP) has 134 seats, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) 59 seats and the MHP 40.

On Tuesday, President Erdoğan officially asked Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu to form a new government following the Nov. 1 general election.