Turkey's main parties announce presidential candidates

ANKARA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Friday designated Muharrem Ince as its presidential candidate for the June 24 early elections.

Speaking in a rally in the capital Ankara, Ince, a veteran CHP lawmaker, vowed to be a president for all people in Turkey.

On the same day, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its election ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) jointly announced the nomination of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the presidential candidate.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and the MHP leader Devlet Bahceli went to the Supreme Election Board on Friday to register Erdogan as their joint candidate.

The two parties established People's Alliance in February to run together for presidential and parliamentary elections.

Good (IYI) Party leader Meral Aksener and Felicity Party (SP) chair Temel Karamollaoglu submitted their applications on Wednesday to run for presidency.

Last month, the parliament ratified a bill calling for early presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24.

In a referendum in April 2017, Turkish voters approved the switch from a parliamentary system to a presidential one. Enditem