9 November 2009 / TODAY’S ZAMAN WITH WIRES, İSTANBUL
Prime Minister Erdoğan has reiterated his promise that he will stand as a candidate for parliamentary elections in 2011 for the last time, during the country’s next general elections.
“Politics is not the only way to serve the nation. When you lead a foundation, then you also serve the country. There are examples of this action all around the world, but unfortunately not in Turkey,” the prime minister said in İstanbul at a tourism award ceremony on Sunday. The prime minister stressed that the bylaws of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) do not allow any of its members to be a candidate three times.In his speech, Erdoğan underlined the temporality of political positions and recalled that previous politicians are still trying to engage in daily politics, which he finds inappropriate. He also noted that the most important thing is to serve the country, saying that he puts forth great effort toward this goal.
