Sahin elected new Paliament speaker

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Antalya Deputy and former Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin yesterday was elected Turkey's 24th Parliament speaker, succeeding Koksal Toptan, whose term as speaker ends on Sunday. Sahin was elected in the third round of voting with 338 votes. In that round, Ilhan Kesici of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) got 103 votes, Munir Kutluata of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) got 66, and independent lawmaker Kamer Genc got a single vote. There were nine blank votes and one was invalid. Sahin will serve a two-year term. Democratic Society Party (DTP) MP Hasip Kaplan, who was also running for speaker, withdrew his candidacy late on Tuesday. In the first round of voting, Sahin won 315 votes, Kesici got 96, Kutluata got 70, Kaplan got 25, and Genc got 11. In the second round, Sahin won 322, Kesici got 96, Kutluata got 71, Kaplan got 20 and Genc got 8. Accepting congratulations from deputies and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sahin gave an address of gratitude to the General Assembly, and pledged he would impartially carry out his new duties.