2 main Turkish opposition parties to field joint candidate in upcoming presidential election

Published January 08, 2015

Two of Turkey's main opposition parties say they will field a joint candidate in the country's upcoming presidential election — selecting a former head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in a race in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to run in the race.

The main opposition secular Republican People's Party, or CHP, and the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, said Monday they agreed on former OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as their candidate in the election on Aug. 10.

If no one wins, a runoff vote will be held Aug. 24. It will be the first time a Turkish president is elected directly by the people rather than by parliament.

Erdogan has not yet announced his candidacy, but is widely expected to do so.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/2-main-turkish-opposition-parties-to-field-joint-candidate-in-upcoming-presidential-election