Turkish parliament speaker leaving office

Baku. 19 February. REPORT.AZ/ The Turkish ruling party’s candidate for mayor of Istanbul is resigning his post as parliament speaker Monday, hours from now, he announced at a farewell dinner, Report informs citing Anadolu Agency.

"After this meal, this first thing I will do is to submit my resignation petition to the Grand National Assembly," said Binali Yildirim, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's candidate for mayor of Istanbul in the March 31 elections.

"Tomorrow morning at 9.00 a.m., I will hand over the reins to Istanbul lawmaker Celal Adan as the oldest deputy speaker," as is customary for interim speakers, ahead of elections for a new speaker, he added.

Telling how he was the last Turkish premier under a parliamentary system, until July 2018, Yildirim added: "I was the first speaker under the presidential system. I am the first speaker who is a mayoral candidate."

Parliament is expected to elect a new speaker on Sunday, Feb. 24.