Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in as Turkey’s President yesterday, cementing his position as its most powerful leader of recent times, in a step opponents fear heralds more authoritarian rule and widening religious influence in public life.
Reading the oath of office in a ceremony in Parliament, Erdogan vowed to protect Turkey’s independence and integrity, to abide by the constitution and by the principles of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern secular republic.
Erdogan, who had been prime minister since 2003, has consistently presented his time in office as a historic mission to transform Turkey domestically and as a regional power.
Main Opposition boycotts ceremonies
Deputies of the main Opposition CHP walked out shortly before Erdogan’s oath. Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu boycotted the ceremony, arguing Erdogan breached the constitution by remaining premier for the weeks after his presidential victory.
“We’re now more worried than ever about one-man, autocratic rule in Turkey,” CHP deputy Aykan Erdemir told Reuters.
Around 200 protesters chanting slogans against Erdogan and carrying banners saying “Presidency cannot wash away corruption or theft” gathered later in Istanbul. Police fired teargas and water cannon to disperse the crowd.
After laying a wreath at Ataturk’s mausoleum in the heart of Ankara, Erdogan’s limousine was escorted by military cavalcade to the presidential palace where he was greeted by outgoing president Abdullah Gul, a co-founder of Erdogan’s AK Party. Moments after being sworn in, Erdogan appointed outgoing foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu as acting prime minister. Davutoglu will oversee the existing Cabinet until Erdogan asks him to form a new government expected to be announced today.
Erdogan’s victory in Turkey’s first popular presidential election this month capped more than a decade as prime minister in which the economy has tripled in dollar terms and the country has carved out a growing role in the politics of the Middle East.
Opponents warn his ambition to establish an executive presidential system will concentrate too much power in the hands of a leader with autocratic instincts.