Tayyip
Erdogan has become Turkey's first popularly-elected head of state after
winning a presidential election on Sunday, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag
said on his Twitter account.
"The chairman of the AK Party and
the prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has become the first
president elected by the people," Bozdag wrote.
His office confirmed the message was published on his official account. Tayyip Erdogan won the election with just over 52 per cent of the vote, Mustafa Sentop, deputy chairman of the ruling AK Party, said.
However, Turkey's electoral authorities are not officially due to announce their first results until today, with final figures due later in the week, but Erdogan, 60, is expected to make a victory address later on Sunday.
For the first time Turkey — a member of Nato and longtime hopeful to join the EU — has directly elected its president, who was previously chosen by parliament, and Erdogan is hoping for a massive show of popular support.
"Our people will make an important decision for Turkish democracy," said Erdogan as he cast his vote in Istanbul alongside his wife Emine and two daughters and two sons.
Erdogan indicated that he planned to revamp the post to give the presidency greater executive powers, which could see Turkey shift towards a system more like that of France if his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is able to change the constitution.
Read more: Times of Oman | News :: Erdogan ‘wins’ Turkey presidential elections
"The chairman of the AK Party and
the prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has become the first
president elected by the people," Bozdag wrote. His office confirmed the message was published on his official account. Tayyip Erdogan won the election with just over 52 per cent of the vote, Mustafa Sentop, deputy chairman of the ruling AK Party, said.
However, Turkey's electoral authorities are not officially due to announce their first results until today, with final figures due later in the week, but Erdogan, 60, is expected to make a victory address later on Sunday.
For the first time Turkey — a member of Nato and longtime hopeful to join the EU — has directly elected its president, who was previously chosen by parliament, and Erdogan is hoping for a massive show of popular support.
"Our people will make an important decision for Turkish democracy," said Erdogan as he cast his vote in Istanbul alongside his wife Emine and two daughters and two sons.
Erdogan indicated that he planned to revamp the post to give the presidency greater executive powers, which could see Turkey shift towards a system more like that of France if his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is able to change the constitution.
Read more: Times of Oman | News :: Erdogan ‘wins’ Turkey presidential elections
