Erdogan begins a new term in Turkey with strengthened powers

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has begun a new five-year term with broad powers, according to a new system denounced as autocratic by his detractors, two years after a failed coup d'etat.

Erdogan [19659003] was sworn in to the Turkish Parliament and pledged to "impartially" accomplish and preserve the principles of secular Turkey founded in the early 20th century by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk .

Accompanied by his wife Emine, the Turkish conservative president was greeted with a standing ovation by representatives of the presidential majority, dominated by Erdogan party deputies, the AKP Islamoconservative.

In power since 2003, as Prime Minister and then President Erdogan, 64, was re-elected on June 24, in the first round of elections, with 52.6% of the vote, far ahead of the other candidates.

After taking Oath, Erdogan will attend a ceremony at the presidential palace, ushering in a new era in modern Turkish history, with the transition to the presidential system, after a revision of the Constitution adopted by referendum. 39, last year.

" Super Presidency " arose nearly two years after an attempted military coup on July 15, 2016 followed by a series of massive purges within the Armed Forces, police and administrations. Tens of thousands of people have been arrested or dismissed from their posts.

The last of these massive purges, announced Sunday, affects more than 18,000 people, mainly soldiers and police, dismissed by decree-law. as the last during the state of emergency, which was established the day after the coup de état missed.

Erdogan "will now have institutional and legal support to control almost everything," according to the new system, says Ayse Ayata, Professor of Political Science at the Technical University of the Middle East (Ödtü) in Ankara

The Parliament under control

The post of prime minister will be abolished and the head of state will have in his hands all the executive power and may appoint six of the thirteen members of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), responsible for appointing and dismissing judicial personnel.

"The essential powers will be in their hands, there will be no more prime minister and almost none of the checks and balances of a liberal democracy. In other words, Turkey will be an institutionalized autocracy, "says Marc Pierini, researcher at Carnegie Europe.

In the legislative elections, which were held at the same time as the presidential elections, the Justice and Development Party (AKP, Islamoconservative) of Erdogan won 295 seats out of 600, and his ultranationalist ally MHP, 49.

In the new legislature, the AKP does not have the majority and will need the support of MHP to control the Many experts fear that this alliance will entail the tightening of Erdoğan's policy, especially on the Kurdish issue.

After being sworn in on Monday, Erdogan will introduce a new, smaller government, which should have 16 departments, instead of 26 (not counting the prime minister) currently.

GC