Turkish Parliament speaker and the ruling AKP's mayoral candidate Binali Yıldırım in the upcoming local elections, said on Tuesday that he will submit his resignation as soon as the official filing of his candidacy is completed.
In an interview with the CNN Türk news channel, Yıldırım said he will resign from his post as parliamentary speaker on Feb. 18 after the formal application for his mayoral bid is completed.
The Turkish opposition has been criticizing Yıldırım's candidacy as being against the law, arguing the Turkish constitution bans parliamentary speakers and deputy speakers from participating in the political activities of their parties within or outside Parliament, apart from situations that are required by their duties.
"This is a first in legislation. The laws are not clear on the issue… Legislators are discussing (this) among themselves. Some say there aren't any laws against it, and some say I should resign."
Yıldırım said he was "fed up" with all the discussions about his resignation and said they should be discussing Istanbul instead.