AKP's Yavuz: even a one-week snap election would clear the way for Erdoğan
AKP Deputy Chairman and Election Affairs Chief Ali İhsan Yavuz, speaking in Ağrı, said the party wants parliament to call an early election, and that moving the vote up by even a week would be enough to let Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan run again.
RastinewsAKP Deputy Chairman and Election Affairs Chief Ali İhsan Yavuz addressed the timing of a possible election at a meeting with civil society representatives and journalists in Ağrı. Yavuz noted that under current law, elections are due in May 2028.
"Even a week would do it"
Yavuz said the AKP wants parliament to vote to renew the election. He said that if such a decision is taken, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could run for another term.
Yavuz said the election does not need to be moved up by six months or a year. "I'll say it plainly: even a week would do the job. So why would we rush? Now is the time to get on with the work," he said.
"So we're in no hurry"
Yavuz said an election brought forward by even a week or two would count as being held on schedule. He said that if the Turkish Grand National Assembly passes an election-renewal decision with 360 votes, it would clear the way for Erdoğan to run again.
"But we're in no hurry for that. Let's get our work done while there's work to do," Yavuz said. He added that the decision to renew the election could come very shortly before May, and that he expects Erdoğan to be a candidate.
What the constitution says
Article 101 of the constitution allows a person to be elected president no more than twice. Erdoğan was re-elected president in 2023.
Under Article 116, if parliament votes 360 in favor of renewing elections during a president's second term, that president may run again.