Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in as president of Turkey at the Parliamentary General Assembly. Representatives of some 90 countries from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe, including the emir of Qatar and Iran’s foreign minister, attended the swearing-in ceremony, Xinhua reported citing Erdogan’s office.
“In my capacity as president, I swear upon my honour and integrity before the Turkish Grand National Assembly and before history to safeguard the existence and independence of the state, the indivisible integrity of the country and the nation and the absolute sovereignty of the nation,” Erdogan said.
The former prime minister won 51.79 percent of votes in the country’s presidential elections early August to become the 12th president of Turkey.
Unlike his predecessors who only served as ceremonial head of the state, Erdogan has looked to exercising greater powers that current laws grant him. But for that end, a change of the current constitution is a must.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party did not attend the ceremony
Pranab greets Erdogan
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee congratulated Erdogan on his election as the country’s president.
“On behalf of the people of India and on my own behalf, it gives me great pleasure to extend my greetings and good wishes on your election as the president of the Republic of Turkey,” Mukherjee said in his message.
He said he had “warm memories” of his visit to Turkey last year and “of our meeting that contributed to strengthening the friendly relations existing between our two countries”.
“Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and my best wishes for your personal well being,” he said.