Turkey's President Abdullah Gul appears to have ruled himself out as a potential future prime minister ahead of presidential elections.
Speaking to reporters in the western province of Kutahya on April 18, Gul said a model similar to that of Russia -- where the president and prime minister have traded places -- would not be "appropriate" for a democracy.
Russia's current prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, replaced Vladimir Putin as president in 2008, while Putin became prime minister. They swapped roles in 2012.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is expected to run for the presidency in an August election.
Gul, a co-founder of the Islamist-rooted party and Erdogan's close ally, has been seen as a potential future prime minister with Erdogan as head of state.
Speaking to reporters in the western province of Kutahya on April 18, Gul said a model similar to that of Russia -- where the president and prime minister have traded places -- would not be "appropriate" for a democracy.
Russia's current prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, replaced Vladimir Putin as president in 2008, while Putin became prime minister. They swapped roles in 2012.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is expected to run for the presidency in an August election.
Gul, a co-founder of the Islamist-rooted party and Erdogan's close ally, has been seen as a potential future prime minister with Erdogan as head of state.
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