Majority of Turks want Gül for president

The survey, conducted by the Konsensus polling company for the Haber Türk daily, has revealed that 48.8 percent of Turks think Turkey's next president should be Gül. The results of the survey, which was conducted across the country between Feb. 23 and March 3 were published by the Haber Türk daily on Monday. The survey also revealed support for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's presidency remained at 16.9 percent, while 13.3 percent of the respondents supported Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, TODAY'S ZAMAN reports.

President Gül was elected in 2007 for a seven-year non-renewable term. Following Gül's election Turkey amended its Constitution to have the public instead of Parliament elect the president for a five-year renewable term. Under current legislation Gül cannot seek re-election.

Having been elected to Parliament for three terms Erdoğan is expected to run for the presidency in 2014 because he cannot run for Parliament for another term due to the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) bylaws. When asked who should become the new AK Party leader if Erdoğan is elected president in 2014, 36.5 percent of survey respondents said it should be Gül while 32.1 percent said it should be current Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç. Arınç was followed by Economy Minister Ali Babacan at 6.6 percent. Turkey will hold presidential elections in 2014.

The respondents of the survey were also asked about their satisfaction with the performance of various political party leaders. The satisfaction rate for Prime Minister Erdoğan was the highest at 51.7 percent, followed by Kılıçdaroğlu at 26.6 percent and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli at 13.9 percent.

In terms of overall politician popularity, 52.3 percent of respondents chose Erdoğan, followed by Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül at 30.7 percent and Kılıçdaroğlu at 27.8 percent.