ANKARA - Former justice minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, who is running for Parliament Speaker, as candidate of Justice and Development (AK) Party, vowed to conduct duties impartially should he get elected.
Sahin, who submitted the petition for candidacy to the parliament on Monday, said he would act in compliance with the constitution and the house regulations if the parliament elected him.
Senior AK Party officials who met earlier Monday to determine their candidate for the upcoming vote nominated Sahin.
Sahin, who is one of the founding members of AK Party, served as Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister during the 58th and 59th governments and has served as Justice Minister until the recent reshuffle of the cabinet. Sahin had also served as the Mayor of Fatih district of Istanbul in the past.
Turkish parliament will elect its new speaker on August 4.
The five-day period given to the MPs to apply for candidacy will end at midnight on Monday.
Kamer Genc, an independent deputy from the eastern province of Tunceli; Ilhan Kesici, Republican People`s Party`s (CHP) deputy from Istanbul and Munir Kutluata, Nationalist Movement Party`s (MHP) deputy from the northwestern province of Sakarya are the other MPs who have announced their candidacy so far.
The first two rounds of the vote for new parliament speaker will be held on August 4. Two thirds (367) of total number of MPs will be required in these rounds.
If the necessary number of votes cannot be reached in the first two rounds, the third and fourth rounds will be held on August 5. The absolute majority (276) of the total number of MPS will be required in the third round. If the absolute majority cannot be reached in the third round, two candidates who receive the highest number of votes, will attend the fourth round. The candidate, who wins the highest number of vote in the fourth round, will become the new speaker of the parliament.
Koksal Toptan has been the parliament speaker for the past two years. Toptan`s mandate will end on August 9.