Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a dinner with journalists that if the Constitutional Court decided to close down his Justice & Development Party (AKP), a new political party would be formed. In case of the closure, early elections would be held and Erdogan would run in the elections as an independent candidate. Erdogan said, "If I cannot run in the elections, I would lead a non-governmental organization or form a new one".
Analysts are saying that early elections are likely even if the Constitutional Court decided against closure, because AKP is eager to capitalize on the appearance of “victimhood” and increase its votes at an early election.
Source: Vatan, Turkey, May 5, 2008
