Outgoing intelligence chief joins Turkish PM’s Kurdish peace bid meeting

ANKARA

Hakan Fidan (C) resigned from his post despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s objections, as he wanted Fidan to remain in his crucial current post. AFP Photo

The outgoing head of Turkey’s intelligence body attended a meeting under the prime minister over the ongoing Kurdish peace process, despite resigning from his post to run for parliament for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Chief Hakan Fidan recently submitted his resignation from the post, which will be valid after 5 p.m. on Feb. 10. His meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m., prime ministry sources said, adding that he would attend the meeting in his capacity as the MİT chief as his resignation would not be valid at that time.

Fidan resigned from his post despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s objections, with Erdoğan publicly stating that he wanted Fidan to remain in his “crucial” current post. 

Nonetheless, the appointment of Fidan’s successor as MİT chief must be approved by the president, Erdoğan stressed on a Feb. 9, suggesting that he would have the final say on the matter.