Hakan Fidan, the head of the Turkish Intelligence Agency (MİT), may be one of the surprising names in the Turkish government if the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declares another victory in 14 May elections.
The news that Erdoğan is considering both Fidan and İbrahim Kalın, the presidential spokesman, as candidates for vice president in the new cabinet, was first reported last week by Hande Fırat, a journalist known for her close ties to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Since then, other outlets have confirmed rumours about Erdoğan’s plans for both Fidan and Kalın.
Fidan, who is known to have political ambitions, wanted to run in June 2015 elections but later withdrew his application upon Erdoğan’s request.
If the country’s intelligence chief wants to run in parliamentary elections on 14 May, he has until Friday evening to offer his resignation. However, Fidan can also stay in his post until the end of the elections and can be appointed to the cabinet by Erdoğan later, as Turkey’s presidential system does not necessitate cabinet members to be elected from lawmakers.
Mehmet Şimşek, who served as the Minister of Finance in AKP governments between 2009 to 2015, will also assume a role in the new cabinet if Erdoğan wins the elections, according to reports. Şimşek silently left his position in 2015 and has stayed away from politics for years.
The AKP is also reviewing the performance of its lawmakers representing the 10 provinces in the country’s south that were hit by the 6 February earthquakes, says reports in Turkish media.
