Turkish president's daughter Sümeyye Erdo?an may run for office

While word is going around that President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s daughter, Sümeyye Erdo?an, will run for office in the upcoming general elections in June, the names of several bureaucrats may also be pronounced.

According to the election calendar, bureaucrats have to resign by Feb. 10 at the latest if they want to run in the upcoming general elections, which has accelerated the preparation of lists in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). This week, Finance Ministry Undersecretary Naci A?bal and Turkish Airlines Head of the Executive Committee Hamdi Topçu are expected to resign so they can run in the elections. 

Sümeyye Erdo?an, the president?s daughter, appears likely to become a deputy as well, but the family has not reportedly decided or announced its decision yet. The number of veiled female deputies in the party will also increase after these elections. Half of the planned 60 female deputies will be veiled. 

Eyes have also turned to advisors in the offices of the president and the prime minister. The first resignation came from Erdo?an?s text writer Ayd?n Ünal. Chief Advisor Yi?it Bulut?s entry into politics is debatable because there is a serious resistance to Bulut?s candidacy within the party. 

The party will not have candidates coming from mayoral positions or provincial organization chairs except for Kayseri Mayor Mehmet Özhaseki. It has been rumored that he was promised candidacy in the first general elections and a cabinet post. 

National Intelligence Organization (M?T) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan?s entry into politics will also be decided this week. Two criteria are expected to affect Fidan?s situation, a person who has good relations with both the president and the prime minister. Having a name at...