Former President of Turkey Abdullah Gül declined from participating in the 3rd special congress of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

At the event, incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will again become chairman of the party, reported BirGün (One Day) newspaper of Turkey.

An invitation to this congress was sent also to Gül, who is one of the founders of AKP, but he decided not to attend this event.

Under the recent constitutional amendments, the president of Turkey can now be a political party member and also head this political force.