The ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) candidate Mustafa ?entop has been elected as the new Speaker of the Turkish Parliament on Sunday.

Iran Press/Asia: Sentop, a lawmaker from northwestern Tekirdag province, received 336 votes in the third round of voting by the Turkish National Assembly of 600 seats, Anadolu reported.

AKP has 291 seats in parliament. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), represented in parliament with 49 MPs, announced it will endorse the AKP’s candidate as part of its 'People’s Alliance' with the ruling party.

The main opposition CHP holds 142 seats in parliament while HDP has 65 deputies and ?Y? Party has 39 deputies.

Former parliament speaker Binali Y?ld?r?m announced his resignation late Feb. 18 to submit his candidacy for Istanbul mayor in the upcoming March 31 local elections. He handed over the office to interim Parliament Speaker Celal Adan of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Feb. 19. 

The presidency released a statement saying Turkey’s president Erdogan called Sentop to congratulate him on his election as parliament speaker. 103/ 211/209

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