2023-06-03 19:00:48
© Reuters. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan takes office in parliament after winning re-election June 3, 2023 REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Por Huseyin Hayatsever and Ezgi Erkoyun
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in for a new presidential term on Saturday after winning re-election last weekend, extending his rule to a third decade.
“I, as president, swear by my honor and integrity, before the great Turkish nation and history, that I will protect the existence and independence of our state,” Erdogan said during a ceremony at parliament in Ankara that was broadcast live.
Turkey’s longest-serving leader, Erdogan won 52.2% of the vote in the second round held on May 28. His election victory defied most opinion polls and came despite a cost of living crisis that appeared to have hurt his prospects.
The new five-year term allows Erdogan to pursue increasingly authoritarian policies that have polarized the country, a NATO member, but strengthened its position as a regional military power.
Later, at the presidential palace, Erdogan struck a conciliatory tone. “Let’s embrace all 85 million people, regardless of their political views … Let’s put aside the resentment of the election period. Let’s look for ways to reconcile,” he said.
Erdogan will name his new cabinet later on Saturday and is expected to signal a change in his unorthodox approach to economic policy.
Erdogan is expected to include former finance minister Mehmet Simsek, Reuters reported earlier this week, which would indicate a potential return to greater economic orthodoxy, including possible interest rate hikes.
Simsek was highly rated by investors when he was finance minister and deputy prime minister between 2009 and 2018. A key role for him could mark a departure from years of maintaining low interest rates despite high inflation and tight control of the State to markets.
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