site.btaUPDATED Movement for Rights and Freedoms Leader Resigns

Mustafa Karadayi resigned as leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), the party announced Tuesday. MRF founder and honorary chairman Ahmed Dogan takes over the operational leadership of the party until a national conference is held to elect Karadayi's successor.

Karadayi tendered his resignation at a meeting of the Central Operational Bureau, said MRF.

The party press release does not mention any motives for the resignation.

In a comment for the press shortly after that, MRF co-floor leader Delyan Peevski, who has been seen more of recently than the party leader, said that the resignation was a personal decision. Karadayi's term at the helm of the country expired in December and he chose to step down earlier, he said.

He also said that the national conference where MRF should elect Karadayi's successor, is expected to be held in February but the exact date will be set in a decision of the party's top leadership, the Central Council, at a meeting on November 17.

Asked whether Karadayi will remain an MP, Peevski said it is up to him to decide. "We talked but we did not discuss that," Peevski added.