DAR AL ISLAM - TURKEY: ERDOGAN TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT?!?

Report: Islamic-rooted Turkish prime minister hints he will run for president

ANKARA, Turkey: Turkey's Islamic-rooted prime minister has given strong hints that he intends to run for president, newspapers reported, as the process of nominating candidates for the post formally opened on Monday.

Pro-secular president Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who has been a brake on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government, is stepping down on May 16. Many secular Turks fear that Erdogan may replace him, challenging Turkey's secular principles and inching the country toward Islamic rule.

Erdogan has not yet said if he will run for president. His party commands a majority in parliament and whomever it nominates is expected to be elected. Erdogan has said his party could decide on a possible candidate during a party meeting on Wednesday, but was not likely to make an announcement until just before nominations close.

Daily Sabah and several other newspapers reported that Erdogan — who has so far refused to be drawn in on whether he will run — dropped strong hints that he wants to become president, while speaking to reporters during a flight to Germany.

Asked how his party would fare in the next general elections if he became president, Erdogan replied: "Let them say our leader is dead and may the successor lead the party forward."
Erdogan also said the new president would share a private jet with the prime minister and would travel more. His words were widely interpreted as showing Erdogan's intention to stand for president.

Erdogan, who has pushed predominantly Muslim Turkey toward European Union membership, has denied any Islamic agenda. He has, however, stoked secularist concerns by speaking out against restrictions on wearing Islamic-style head scarves in government offices and schools and taking steps to bolster religious institutions. He also tried to criminalize adultery before being forced to back down under intense EU pressure. Some party-run municipalities have also taken steps to ban alcohol consumption.

On Saturday, more than 300,000 people took to the streets of the capital Ankara to protest against Erdogan's possible bid, in the country's largest demonstrations in decades. Protesters chanted: "We don't want an imam as president! and "Turkey is secular and will remain secular."
Turkey's parliament is expected to hold a first round of presidential elections on either April 26 or May 3, after the process of nominating candidates closes at midnight on April 25.

If Erdogan runs, another pro-Islamic official could then be selected for the premiership.

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1) Report: Islamic-rooted Turkish prime minister hints he will run for president