Turks have rewarded Erdogan for his leadership over nearly the last decade by elevating him to the Presidency, a position to which he wants to assign significantly more power than ever before.
Here & Now Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan convened his ruling party leadership Monday to find a new premier for Turkey, following his victory in the country’s historic first direct vote for president.
In his victory speech Sunday night, Erdogan struck a conciliatory tone toward critics who fear he is bent on a power grab as he embarks on another five years at the country’s helm. Erdogan has already served three terms as prime minister.
“Today is the day Turkey is born from its ashes and a new Turkey is built,” he told thousands of cheering, flag-waving supporters from the balcony of his Justice and Development Party headquarters in the capital, Ankara. “I will not be the president of only those who voted for me. I will be the president of 77 million,” he said, in stark contrast to his mostly bitter, divisive election campaign.
Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for more than a decade, has vowed to transform the presidency from a largely ceremonial post into a powerful position. He has said he will activate the post’s rarely used dormant powers — a legacy of a 1980 coup — including the ability to call parliament and summon cabinet meetings.turkey-erdogan-president?utm_content=bufferbc649&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
