ANKARA - Turkish FM & Deputy PM Abdullah Gul, candidate of the ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP) for president, asked for support of the social Democrat People`s Party (SHP) in the election.
Gul met SHP leader Murat Karayalcin.
Following the meeting, Gul told reporters, "I paid visits not only to the political parties but also to the independent lawmakers."
"Today, I met Mr. Karayalcin. As you know, the SHP is represented at the parliament by MP Ahmet Guryuz Ketenci. I asked them to support me in the presidential election. Whatever their decision will be, I will respect," he said.
When asked whether he would meet Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan, Gul said that he would visit all political parties.
Meanwhile, Karayalcin told reporters that SHP MP Ketenci would not attend the voting at the parliament.
"The SHP launched a campaign in 2006 for an amendment to the Article 102 of the Constitution to open the way for a president elected by universal vote. We collected signatures from hundreds of thousands of people. We submitted the signatures to the parliament. Since our request was turned down, we decided not to participate in the presidential election. Our decision is nothing to do with Mr. Gul`s candidacy," Karayalcin added.