Turkey's ruling party welcomes outgoing president Gül
by AA
ANKARAAug 12, 2014 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by AA
Aug 12, 2014 12:00 am
Outgoing Turkish President Abdullah Gül is welcome back into Turkey's ruling AK Party, said Bülent Arınç, deputy prime minister, although it is not clear what his role in the party will be.
In an interview with private TV channel "Kanal A, Arınç ruled out Gül being chosen as party chairman right now, "because he is not an MP, which he cannot be until June 2015," when Turks will vote in general elections.
Arınç made his comments ahead of a party meeting on August 27 when the party is expected to choose a prime minister before President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan takes his oath of office the next day.
Gül, who along with Erdoğan was one of the founders of the party 14 years ago, said he would officially remain head of state until August 28.
Arınç went on to say: "It is arguable whether Gül would accept any forced formula to become the prime minister or whether the party would like such a formula."
"Erdoğan and members of the party's central executive committee have agreed that the chosen party leader will be the prime minister for the time being because it will enable continuation, consistency and stability in the party," he said. "This decision has not been taken against Abdullah Gül. This is a legal decision taken under the internal dynamics of the party and necessity of the current circumstances."
Arınç said he does not think Gül will be "saddened" by this decision and requested others not to evaluate it as "an action and a decision taken against him."
Gül was one of the founders of the AK Party together with President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who became the country's 12th president in Sunday's first-ever direct poll to pick the head of the Turkish state.
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