Erdogan's former FM Davutoglu hints at running for president in 2023
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Former Turkish FM describes himself as a contender for the 2023 presidential elections, on behalf of 6 opposition parties.
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Former Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu
Representing an alliance of six opposition parties, former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday described himself as a contender for the next general elections in 2023.
After having held positions such as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's advisor, foreign minister and the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Davutoglu broke away from the party in 2019, forming his own splinter Future Party to challenge AKP.
Davutoglu said his party will discuss the choice of a single presidential candidate from the alliance of opposition parties.
"We [leaders of six opposition parties] became contenders when we created our parties. We all are contenders," the Yenicag newspaper quoted the former PM as saying.
Erdogan announced his bid for yet another presidential term last week. The six opposition parties had promised in February to limit presidential powers and empower parliament instead.
Back in April, it was suggested that Erdogan might nominate another member of the ruling party to run in the 2023 presidential election, as he is unsure of his victory.
The ruling AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) created the People's Alliance to re-elect Erdogan in the previous Turkish general election in 2018.
The Turkish president has become less popular amid the soaring inflation that has been hitting the country.
In January, he intimidated the local media with legal action for content "incompatible with national and moral values." According to critics, Erdogan's move came as an attempt to stifle dissent.
In the process, he fired his justice minister and the head of the state statistics agency after publishing official data that reveal the inflation rate hit a 19-year high last year.
