President Erdoğan describes MİT head Fidan’s reappointment as ‘felicitous’

ANKARA

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Hakan Fidan’s decision to return to his former position as head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MİT) is “felicitous,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said.

Erdoğan also strictly refuted opposition claims that the reappointment of Fidan, after he had resigned to stand for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the upcoming June elections, was unlawful.

“As you know, I previously stated my convictions about [Fidan’s] resignation from this post. I explained why I did not find it appropriate. I believe the decision he has now made is felicitous. After this decision, I also discussed the situation with the prime minister,” he said late on March 12, speaking at a joint press conference with Hungarian President János Áder.

Erdoğan also said that he and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu together studied of “all legal aspects of the case” and ultimately found that there was no obstacle to Fidan returning to his post.

“We don’t have any trouble or discomfort. I say that those who have trouble should mull it over,” he said regarding the opposition parties’ legal and ethical objections to Fidan’s reappointment.

Late on March 13 Erdoğan was due to host Fidan at his presidential palace in Ankara for the first time since the latter’s withdrawal from his bid to step onto the political stage.

Opposition parties have claimed that Prime Minister Davutoğlu’s reappointment of Fidan late on March 9 as head of the MİT was a result of pressure from Erdogan, who opposed his decision to run for a parliamentary seat.

Seen as a potential foreign minister, Fidan is one of Erdoğan’s closest confidants. However, there was speculation that if he had gone through with his plan to enter parliament, he could have become a powerful ally to Davutoğlu and a potential check on Erdoğan’s influence.