(Adds Simsek tweet)
ANKARA, March 20 (Reuters) - Turkey's former deputy
prime minister in charge of the economy, Mehmet Simsek, said on
Monday that he is not interested in active politics, while the
AK Party said President Tayyip Erdogan had not offered him a
post when they met.
Sources told Reuters last week that Erdogan wanted to give a
top role in running the economy to Simsek, who is highly
regarded in international circles, and that the party's draft
election manifesto marked a return to more orthodox, free market
economic policies.
After meeting Erdogan on Monday, Simsek said he was ready to
provide the necessary support in his area. "But due to my work
at foreign financial institutions, I am not thinking of going
into active politics," he wrote on Twitter.
AKP spokesperson Omer Celik said Erdogan and Simsek
discussed recent developments and policies. "If he preferred
active politics, all the mechanisms, duties of our party would
be open to Mr. Mehmet," Celik told reporters.
Erdogan did not make an offer to Simsek regarding a
ministry, vice presidency or chief adviser position on Monday,
Celik said.
Turkey is due to hold presidential and parliamentary
elections on May 14 and opinion polls show that Erdogan will
face his biggest electoral challenge yet in his two decades in
power.
Erdogan's popularity has suffered mainly due to an erosion
of living standards caused by the depreciation in the Turkish
lira at a time when Ankara began pursuing a controversial
economic model that was based on low interest rates.
(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Alison Williams)
+905319306206; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging:
ali.kucukgocmen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
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