Who are the 14 Erdo?an-linked figures on AKP's candidate list?

Turkish President Erdo?an?s son-in-law, lawyer, speechwriter, advisor, advisor?s cousin, coordinator?s father, chief of staff?s wife and official singer are all on the election candidates list of the ruling AKP. As ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chair Mustafa ?entop announced on April 7, the AKP did not include close relatives of existing party members on its list, but 14 figures closely linked to President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, including his son-in-law, found their places there.

AKP Spokesperson Be?ir Atalay said in a press conference on April 7 that Erdo?an did not see and approve the list made by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu in advance, but still had an influence. 

?But the president is our founding leader. We all know his place in this movement. There is no need to mention it,? Atalay said, referring to Erdo?an?s non-partisan position according to the Turkish Constitution.

Here are the leading Erdo?an-linked figures on the AKP?s candidate list for the June 7 elections:

1) Berat Albayrak, Erdo?an?s son-in-law, is the 6th-placed candidate of the AKP in the first district of Istanbul.

2) Fatma Varank, a cousin of Erdo?an?s adviser, Mustafa Varank, had approved the construction plan of Turkey?s controversial presidential complex when she was a member of the official board of natural protection in Ankara. She is in the 21st place from the first district of Istanbul.

3) Mücahit Arslan, a close confidant of Erdo?an?s for decades, had previously refused to enter politics. Arslan, who accompanied Erdo?an when he was jailed in the past, will run for parliament from Ankara.

4) Ayd?n Ünal, Erdo?an?s former speechwriter, is now an MP candidate from Ankara....