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Opposition makes hopeless objection to Erdogan's candidacy

Turkey’s opposition is protesting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s campaigning for the presidency without resignin from his current privileged position.
MPs of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) shout slogans against the ruling AK Party (AKP) during a debate in Ankara March 19, 2014. Parliament convened in the capital Ankara for the hearing of a prosecutor report allegedly outlining the role of four former ministers in a corruption scandal that became public in December 2013. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3HS83

Since Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his candidacy on July 1 to run in the presidential race — the first to take place by public vote — the opposition started to focus its objection to his candidacy on legal grounds.

Gursel Tekin, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy chairman, said on July 2, "Erdogan should resign as prime minister the moment his candidacy for the presidency becomes definitive, which is July 3 at the latest. It is not ethical for the prime minister to benefit from the resources of his office while the other two candidates will only rely on their privately raised funds. We expect the prime minister to resign as soon as possible.” 

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