Turkey: Senior opposition MP to seek speakership

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Wednesday announced its candidate for parliament speaker: Engin Altay, the party’s deputy group chair.

Altay has long been a top CHP leader, Engin Ozkoc, another CHP deputy chair, told reporters, adding: "He knows bureaucracy and politics very well."

Altay, a deputy representing Istanbul, has been a member of parliament since 2002.

The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s Istanbul mayoral candidate Binali Yildirim stepped down this week ahead of elections for a new speaker next Sunday.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) announced that it will support the candidate of the ruling AK Party for speaker, expected to be announced later this week.

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

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