Epress.am News from Armenia
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) higher-ups have decided to accept 1,650 applications from a total of 5,599 candidate hopefuls who wish to be nominated as parliamentary candidates in the June 12 general elections, reports Istanbul-based daily Today’s Zaman.
The 1,650 candidates will be picked based primarily on the results of surveys carried out in the candidates’ respective hometowns. The results will determine whether the hopefuls are nominated as deputy candidates in the approaching elections.
The AK Party’s candidate list is claimed to reflect an increase in the number of female candidates. The ruling party plans to have at least 60 female candidates elected to Parliament from its ranks. If it manages this, the AK Party will become the first political party in the history of Turkey to have so many female deputies.
Melkon Karaköse and Herman Balyan, both of Armenian descent, are expected to be on the AK Party’s list of parliamentary candidates. Karaköse has been a member of the AK Party for two years now. He is believed to be close to the party because of its support for the Law on Foundations, which enables foundations run by non-Muslim communities to own property and receive financial assistance from the state.
The AK Party is also reportedly in close contact with Bedros Şirinoğlu, head of the Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital Foundation, to nominate him for the parliamentary elections. It is not yet clear whether he will be nominated or not.