ANKARA
The joint presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition parties started visiting various opposition parties Thursday to raise support for the presidential election in August.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu began his visit with the Grand Unity Party (BBP) and met the party leaders of Mustafa Destici.
“It was very constructive and efficient meeting and I'm very happy” Ihsanoglu said after the meeting. BBP leader Destici said Ihsanoglu is “worthy of presidential position”.
Ihsanoglu needs 20 members of parliament to support his candidacy before he can officially run in the election, scheduled for August 10.
Ihsanoglu also met with the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Masum Turker, at party’s headquarters in Ankara. Turker renewed his party’s support for the candidate,
“Ihsanoglu will ensure the integrity of Turkey, he can prevent the division of power, and he will work on behalf of the Turkish people after he will be elected as president," Turker said.
Ihsanoglu was also supported by the leader of the Republican People’s Part (CHP), Kemal Kılıcdaroglu.
“Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is a wise person who will embrace all sections of society," Kılıcdaroglu said after meeting the candidate. "He does not involve himself in politics directly but he follows the world’s problems closely.”.
The main opposition parties in Turkey announced Ihsanoglu as their joint presidential candidate on June 16. Ihsanoglu, who is 71, retired last year as secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation -- a body that promotes the interests of 57 member states. Under his leadership, since his election in 2005, the organization has become more involved in humanitarian, social and economic issues. He is an author and diplomat who was born in Cairo to Turkish parents.
Gultekin Uysal the leader of the Democrat Party (DP) affirmed that his party would support Ihsanoglu after his visit to DP’s headquarters.
“We are delighted that it is Ihsanoglu who is presented as a candidate for president,” Uysal said.
Ihsanoglu also came together with the Turkey's pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party' (HDP) newly elected co- chairman Selahattin Demirtas.
A candidate needs more than 50 percent of the popular vote to be elected in the first round. If none of the three expected candidates receives the required percentage, there will be a second round on August 24 between the two candidates who received the most votes.
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