ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has called on Turks to put aside all their differences and focus on the future as Erdogan assumed office for a new term on Saturday.
According to Reuters, he said, “We will embrace all 85 million citizens regardless of their political affiliation… Let’s put aside the bitterness of the poll period. Let’s look for means to reconcile,”.
President Erdogan Urges Unity as He Begins New Term
Erdogan added that together, they must look ahead, focus on the future, and make efforts to say new things. He said, “We must try to build the future by learning from our mistakes.”
Earlier, Erdogan was sworn in on Saturday for his third term as the President of Turkey, following his historic victory in the recent runoff election.
Defying predictions and overcoming a challenging cost-of-living crisis, Erdogan secured 52.2% support in the May 28 vote. His reelection highlighted his ability to connect with a significant portion of the electorate and navigate obstacles successfully.
The presence of world leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, added to the significance of the inauguration ceremony in Ankara.
With his new five-year mandate, Erdogan will have the opportunity to pursue policies that have been criticized for their increasing authoritarianism and polarization of the country. As a NATO member and a regional military power, Turkey’s political direction under Erdogan will continue to shape its domestic and international standing.
Erdogan, who first became prime minister in 2003, has played a prominent role in Turkish politics for nearly two decades. He became the country’s first popularly-elected president in 2014 and was reelected in 2018 after securing new executive powers in a 2017 referendum. In his victory speech, Erdogan emphasized that addressing inflation, the most pressing issue for Turkey, would be his top priority.
