‘Century of Türkiye’ has begun, says Erdogan

ANKARA (AA): With the “Century of Türkiye” started, the path to the rise of Türkiye is now before us, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

“Türkiye entered a new path after the casting of votes ended and the results were announced. The Century of Türkiye has begun, and the doors of our country’s growth have been opened,” Erdogan said at his inauguration ceremony at the presidential complex, with the attendance of high-level officials from 81 countries.

Earlier, Erdogan took his renewed oath of office as Türkiye’s president.

Türkiye went to the polls on May 28 for a presidential runoff after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote needed for an outright victory in the first round on May 14.

Erdogan won the race with 52.18% of the vote, while opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu got 47.82%, according to official results.

Erdogan’s Justice and Development (AK) Party and its allies had won a majority in parliament in May 14 polls.

“I hope this lofty mission will be auspicious for my nation, to which I have devoted my life, to all parts of our heartland, and to humanity. I hope we will not disappoint our beloved nation that trusts me, our party, and our alliance,” Erdogan said.

The president added that he will not forget the outpouring of support he felt in Türkiye and surrounding regions on May 28.

“We will embrace all 85 million people (in the country), regardless of their political views, origins, or sect,” Erdogan pledged.

He said the nation’s 85 million citizens need to be joined together “like the bricks of a wall.”

“Our nation, which a century ago completed their national struggle with the foundation of the republic, will crown the second century of the republic with the Century of Türkiye,” Erdogan said, promising to implement the vision step by step over the five years of his term in office.

“As we have been doing for the past 21 years, we will hopefully deliver upon our promises one by one,” he said, referring to the November 2002 elections, which swept his AK Party into office.

“We will save our democracy from the current constitution, which is a product of the (1980) coup, and strengthen it with a libertarian, civilian and inclusive one,” he further pledged.

“We will continue to develop our country through investment, employment, production, exports, and a current account surplus. We are determined to put Ghazi Mustafa Kemal’s (Ataturk) principle of ‘Peace at home, Peace in the world’ into practice in its true meaning,” he added.