Turkey's CHP 'disapproves' of Erdogan presidential bid

The leader of Turkey's main opposition People's Republican Party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, expressed disapproval Wednesday at the much-anticipated prospect of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan becoming a presidential candidate.

Kilicdaroglu hinted that Erdogan wasn't the right choice to be a candidate in the August 10 poll.

"I don't approve of political party leaders running for president," Kilicdaroglu said during a televised interview, "because the person to take office needs to be able to embrace the entire society".

Kilicdaroglu said his party would be open to cooperation with others on choosing and supporting a common candidate.

Quickly following March 30 local elections, Turkey has become absorbed in the upcoming presidential elections, with media outlets entertaining a wide array of political calculi, mainly centred on the close relationship between Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul.

Gul is still eligible to run for president for a second term, but it is thought likely that he will give way to Erdogan. However, if Gul decides to run, Erdogan will complete his three terms as Turkey's prime minister next year.

Erdogan's ruling AK Party restricts its members to three terms in office as deputies, a rule codified by the founders of the party, including Erdogan and Gul.

On 2 May, the AKP announced its maintenance of its three-term limit for its deputies, providing what are considered signals that its leader Erdogan will be running the first direct presidential elections in August.

A public opinion poll conducted by the Objective Research Council, a Turkish research institute indicated over 50 percent of the Turkish public would elect Erdogan as the next president.