ANKARA
Turkey's nationalist opposition party leader asked Tuesday whether Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be a candidate for presidential election on August 10, the first time a president will be elected by direct popular vote.
Speaking at his party's group meeting, the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that everyone has the right to be the president.
However, no candidates have been put forward yet to run for the post. Even Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party has yet to put forward a candidate, but Erdogan is considered by many to be the party's nominee.
MHP has previously said that they wished to present a joint candidate, with other opposition parties, that can "embrace the entire nation". The party is meeting with other political parties, non-governmental organizations and trade bodies to discuss who they will nominate.
Bahceli said that new president should not be discriminatory, exclusivist and shady. President should reflect the joint will of people.
Candidates for the August 10 presidential election can submit their applications to the country's election authority from June 29 to July 3.
A candidate needs more than 50 percent of the popular vote to be elected in the first round. If no one receives the required percentage, there will be a second round on August 24 between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first.
Bahceli also criticized Erdogan's response to the kidnapping of an unknown number of teenagers, allegedly by the PKK on April 23 in southeastern province of Diyarbakir.
Erdogan called on the pro-Kurdish opposition parties (the People's Democratic Party and the Peace and Democracy Party) to find and bring back the teenagers, accusing the parties of affiliation with the group.
"It is inadequate to appeal to the pro-Kurdish opposition parties," said Devlet Bahceli.
"Erdogan's plans are empty and groundless," added Bahceli.
Turkey's 'solution process' began early last year with a ceasefire between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The government pledged democratic reforms to empower minorities, particularly the Kurdish minority, which is by far the largest making up 18 percent of the population.
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