ANKARA: The incumbent Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been nominated by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as its candidate for the country’s presidential election.
The first round of the presidential election will be held on August 10 which Erdogan is widely expected to win.
Erdogan is currently serving his third term as prime minister and, under party rules, is not allowed to run for premiership again when his term comes to an end in 2015.
The election will be the first time ever that people in Turkey directly elect their president. Previously, the president was chosen by the parliament.