Erdogan: A.K. Party Still Wants Early Elections

ANKARA, Jan 10 (A.A) - Justice and Development Party (AK) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his party still wanted early elections. He also said that there would be no discussions of a party leader in the AK following the warning of the Constitutional Court.
''We still want early elections because the country is now in an economic crisis and the only way out is to get rid off this government,'' he said.
Erdogan also told reporters on Thursday that the court's decision didn't make people uneasy.
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan who also responded to similar questions, said that his party was not fully satisfied by the court decision regarding the AK Party but still they regarded as a step forward.
Kutan said that Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) should not exist and he defined it as a ''shame of democracy.'' He said Erdogan was punished because of the existence of this law.
''Supreme Court refused the demand of Republic Head Prosecutor who asked for the dismissal of female founding members of the party who wear headscarves. We see this as an important step for democracy,'' he commented.
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMAN SAYS ERDOGAN'S LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE UNTIL END OF FIFTH MONTH STARTING FROM NOTIFICATION OF REASONED VERDICT
Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin said on Thursday that Recep Tayyip Erdogan would continue to be the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) until the end of the fifth month starting from the notification of the reasoned verdict of issuing a warning to the party.
When a reporter said that the decision to issue a warning to the party to exclude Erdogan from founder membership led to serious discussions and asked if he could detail the decision, Bumin said, ''do not hurry. Wait for the reasoned verdict. It is not possible for me to say anything definite about when the reasoned verdict will be finalized. One of the members will write it and then, a delegation will discuss and edit it. We will try to write it as soon as possible. But, I think it cannot be ready before a month.''
Responding to a question, Bumin said that the brief decision could be issued in a few days.
Asked if Erdogan could be a member in his party, Bumin said, 'I will not tell anything about what you want to learn from me.''
Upon a question, Bumin said that the Constitutional Court had not taken such a decision in its history before and noted that if such a decision had been taken, it was not effective in taking this decision.
Asked if the Higher Election Board (YSK) had to take into consideration the decisions of the Constitutional Court, Bumin said that YSK would take into consideration the decisions of the Constitutional Court.
However, Bumin said and noted that they would make an evaluation about whether or not Erdogand had the competence to be a deputy when the time came.
Asked if Erdogan's leadership would end after the notification of the reasoned verdict, Bumin said, ''reasoned verdict will be written and be notified to the party. The party is obliged to fulfil the requirements of the decisions within six months. Erdogan's leadership will continue at least till the end of the fifth month following the notification.''