"I did not enter politics for [personal] ambitions and wish for a position. I would consider [returning to politics] if need be," the former president, also the co-founder of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said, while responding to a question on the much talked about prospect of his return to politics.
Gül left his post as president in August 2014 and was succeeded by current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who became the first Turkish president to be directly elected. Gül attracted attention thanks to his relatively democratic stance, but supported some of the antidemocratic practices of the ruling AK Party near the end of his term. This subsequently raised questions about his democratic position. There are claims that Gül is waiting for conditions to be right so he can reenter politics.
Rumors of a rivalry between Erdoğan and Gül emerged when the former president indicated his willingness to return to politics representing the AK Party. The AK Party administration, however, closed the doors to that option to Gül, scheduling a party convention that could have been an opportunity for Gül to join the party just a few days before he was due to officially hand over the post to Erdoğan.
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