Political Parties Hunting Famous Women

Now that an election date has been set, there has been a wave of artists, journalists and bureaucrats standing as candidates. There are also female candidates; among them are Seyhan Eksioglu, the former president of the Association to Support and Educate Women Candidates (Ka-Der), Suna Kepoğlu, rumoured to be placed to compete with Leyla Zana, the writer Nevval Sevindi, and Prof. Dr. Necla Arat, a co-organiser of the "Republican rallies".

Here is an overview of famous women candidates:

Seyhan Eksioglu: A lawyer, she has resigned from her position at Ka-Der and is standing for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Prof. Dr. Necla Arat and Prof. Dr. Nur Sertel: Co-organisers of the "Republican rallies", they have become candidates for the centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP). The party's chairman has publicly welcomed their candidature.

Sebnem Kisaparmak: TV presenter Kisaparmak has become a candidate for the centre-right True Path Party (DYP). In a press briefing she has mentioned Istanbul or Kastamonu as possible constituencies.

Suna Kepoglu: Kepoglu from rural Diyarbakır is known as the "female agha" of the Kepoglu tribe. As a candidate for DYP, she has been chosen to compete with Leyla Zana and Reyhan Yalçındağ, who are both from the East of Turkey, too.

Nevval Sevindi: Journalist Sevindi has announced her candidature for the Democratic Party (DP), the recent amalgamation of the centre-right Motherland (ANAP) and True Path (DYP) parties. She is well-known for her newspaper articles, a book of interviews with religious leader Fethullah Gülen, and her support of women's and cancer patients' rights.

Suna Vidinli: TV presenter Vidinli became well-known for her questions directed at French MP Francois Rochebloin in a discussion of the Armenian Genocide.

Leyla Zana and Reyhan Yalcindag: Former MP Zana, who was imprisoned for 11 years, will stand for the Kurdish-interest party DTP. Another woman who is expected to become a candidate for DTP is Reyhan Yalcindag, the vice-president of the Association of Human Rights. Yalcindag is also the wife of Osman Baydemir, the mayor of the south-eastern city of Diyarbakır, who is well-known for his campaigns to improve Kurdish cultural rights. (AÖ/AG)