Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged victorious in the country’s key presidential elections that will allow him to keep his seat with increased powers and become Turkey’s first executive president. According to Anadolu news agency Erdogan has received highest share 52.5 percent vote in the polls as compared to his closest rival, Muharen Ince who received 32.6 percent of the votes. “Our democracy has won, the people’s will has won, Turkey has won,” Erdogan told a crowd of enthusiastic supporters in the capital, Ankara, thanking the Turkish citizens who cast their ballots in an election that saw a record turnout of 87 percent.
It was for the first time Turkish voters cast their votes in simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, in line with the constitutional changes approved in a referendum last year that will transform the country’s parliamentary system to an executive presidential one. The new system grants significant executive powers to the president whereby the presidential office will have the power to appoint vice presidents, ministers, high-level officials and senior judges. The president will also be able to dissolve parliament, issue executive decrees, and impose a state of emergency.
Erdogan who has ruled the country for more than 15 years as prime minister and president has been facing severe criticism at the hands of some western countries and international rights groups accusing his government of using coup bid as a pretext to silence voice of dissent in the country. But the fact remains that Erdogan has emerged as the most influential leader not only in the Muslim world but throughout the globe. At domestic level he had introduced key political and economic reforms that on one hand has strengthened the country’s economy while on the other powerful military has been brought under civilian control. He is largely seen as the architect of new Turkey, during his rule the country has witnessed enormous growth and several democratic reforms have been initiated over the past several years. His supporters believe that the presidential system will unlock Turkish politics and usher in an era of political, economic, and social stability. He is also reckoned as one of the powerful Muslim Leader who has the courage to call a spade a spade. He had the privilege to take bold stand on the issues faced by the Muslims across the globe, weather it is issue of Israeli aggression against Palestinians, Indian brutalities in Kashmir, or massacre of Muslim community in Myanmar, Erdogan has never ever shied away in speaking the truth. Back at home Erdogan is viewed as the man of honesty and integrity, symbol of peace, progress and prosperity. This is only reason that Turkish people have time and again reposed their trust and confidence over his leadership. Hope Turkey under his dynamic leadership will continue its journey of progress and prosperity.
