President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who won an absolute majority in the presidential election with 52.5 percent in June 24 vote, yesterday took oath of office as the first President of the Republic of Turkey under the new executive presidential system. The oath taking ceremony was attended by 22 heads of the states, 28 prime ministers and parliament speakers from different countries as well as representatives from Turkey.
Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Presidents of Pakistan, Somalia, Bosnia, Georgia, Venezuela, Zambia and Moldova were among the heads of states attending the inauguration ceremony. This change has come in line with the constitutional changes approved in a referendum in April 2017.
Along foreign dignitaries, some 10,000 people participated in the ceremony as Turkish citizens from all walks of life including leaders of religious communities, teachers, firefighters, village heads, tradesmen, miners and dentists were invited to the ceremony, Anadulo News Agency reported.
This has come following a ceremony held on Saturday, where 600 lawmakers from seven political parties constituting the newly-elected Turkish parliament took their oaths and observed a moment of silence to pay respect to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Republic of Turkey.
In order to mark this significant transition from a parliamentary system to an executive presidency, one Turkish Lira coins and stamps were specially issued.
President Erdogan announced his Cabinet under the new presidential system which mark the historical transition to an executive presidential system of government, doing away with the post of prime minister and making other changes. The new cabinet has 16 ministers instead of 26, which has been made up of former politicians and bureaucrats fulfilling the statement the President had made earlier.
Shortly after taking the oath President Erdogan said: “Turkey will improve in every field including democracy, fundamental rights, freedoms, economy and large investments, promising to be president of all 81 million Turkish citizens and worthy of our nation.”
Speaking about the advantage of the new presidential system, President Erdogan stressed: “Turkey is leaving behind a system (parliamentary) which cost the country politically, socially, economically”.
The parliamentary system was blamed for destabilising the nation’s political system, because of repeated military coups and misunderstanding between the presidents and first ministers of the state. No doubt that a powerful executive presidency will create a stable environment that will allow the country to take “steps for the future in a stronger manner” with efficiency in the decision-making process to face challenges lying ahead.
