Turkey: Sentop to be AK Party speaker candidate

Deputy Speaker Mustafa Sentop will submit his candidacy petition on Friday for Sunday election, say sources

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has chosen Deputy Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop as its candidate for the speaker's post, according to sources in parliament.

Sentop, a lawmaker representing the northwestern Tekirdag province, will submit his candidacy petition Friday afternoon, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

AK Party Istanbul mayoral candidate Binali Yildirim stepped down this week ahead of Sunday’s speaker election.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the AK Party’s parliamentary and election ally, has already announced that it will support the AK Party candidate.

In the first two rounds of Sunday’s election, at least 401 out of 600 deputies' votes are needed to win the speaker post.

In a third round, if necessary, only 301 votes are needed, and in a possible fourth round, a simple majority suffices to win.

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