Power struggles for AKP posts continue
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ANKARA - A rival candidate has announced his bid for provincial party leader of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, provincial congress in Erzurum despite the prime minister’s insistence that the party nominate just one candidate.
Former provincial party leader Recep Küçükoğlu announced that he is running for the post against Murat Kılıç when internal elections are held during the congress, which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to attend, scheduled for July 11.
It is believed that the AKP canceled its party congress in Ankara because Erdoğan was unhappy with the multiple contenders.
Küçükoğlu said he is actually Erdoğan’s pick for provincial leader, not the incumbent. He said he is not acting against the wishes of the party leader and that a democratic culture within the party is encouraged.
Erzurum party leader Hüseyin Tanfer, however, said the prime minister’s choice was Kılıç, who he said is also his personal choice and the organization's choice.
It is believed the AKP has been seeking to restructure its management following election results in the March 29 local elections, which it considered a failure despite emerging as the overall winner.