Turkish PM reiterates 2011 elections his last run

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated that he would be a candidate in parliamentary elections for the last time, Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman reported Monday.

Turkey is scheduled to hold its next general elections in the year of 2011.

Erdogan told a tourism award ceremony in the Turkish largest city Istanbul on Sunday that the bylaws of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) do not allow any of its members to run for parliamentary seats three times, said the report.

The AK Party won Turkey's parliamentary elections in July 2007,the second time Erdogan ran for elections, gaining national votes of 46.5 percent and collecting 341 seats in the 550-member parliament.

"Politics is not the only way to serve the nation. When you lead a foundation, then you also serve the country," the prime minister was quoted as saying.

Erdogan said he found it inappropriate for some previous politicians to engage in daily politics, noting that the most important thing was to serve the country.

A survey revealed in the Turkish Daily News said last Tuesday that AK Party is losing the support of the electorate because of the economic downturn and its move to solve the Kurdish issue.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have increased electorate support, according to the survey.

Source: Xinhua