ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) kicked off his presidential campaign yesterday, promising to transform the largely ceremonial post into a more powerful position if he wins the August polls.
“We are taking the first step of a new beginning,” he told thousands of supporters in rally in the northern city of Samsun, just days after announcing his candidacy.
A boisterous crowd of supporters from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) cheered, called Erdogan’s name and waved Turkish and party flags under the pouring rain.
Erdogan declared his candidacy on Tuesday to become the country’s first democratically elected president and is widely expected to sweep to an outright victory in the first round of polls on August 10.
The 60-year-old made clear yesterday that he would transform the post held by Abdullah Gul into a more powerful position. “Is it possible to be head of the state and sit back?” Erdogan asked, pledging to use any extra powers granted to him as president to push ahead with new airport and road construction projects.
“I am not leaving you. I am not stopping to serve. I am not having a break in our journey. I am not retiring for rest,” he said.
“On the contrary I am nominated to a higher post to serve you, my glorious nation, and country better.”
His address was often interrupted by supporters shouting slogans like “Turkey is proud of you!”
He symbolically chose the city of Samsun to start his campaign. It was there Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, started the war of independence in 1919. “Ninety-five years later, we are starting presidential campaign from Samsun, a new step for a new Turkey,” he said.
Erdogan, who has dominated politics for over a decade, has steered his AKP government to successive election wins, notching up a bigger share of the vote each time.
But crises over the past year ranging from mass street protests to a vast corruption scandal have bruised his stature in Turkey and abroad.
Hailed by supporters as the man who brought stability to Turkey, Erdogan has also faced criticism from secular segments for his uncompromising stance and heavy-handed tactics used to crush protests.
He is bracing for a gruelling campaign schedule packed with rallies across the country. The largest is expected in Istanbul on July 11. But as the campaign gets underway, the opposition called for Erdogan to resign to allow candidates to race under equal terms.
“As Erdogan declared his candidacy, he must show the virtue of stepping down as prime minister without causing an unfair competition and wasting the state means. This is a requirement of respect and obedience to democracy,” said Devlet Bahceli, leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
“The prime minister who holds a presidential campaign through virtual inauguration ceremonies must rally in squares under equal terms,” he said, accusing Erdogan of being driven by “authoritarian motives and a desire for a one-man rule”.
The vote is shaping up as a two-horse race between Erdogan and opposition candidate Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, a devout intellectual who has none of the charisma of the combative Erdogan.
Referring to Erdogan as a polarising figure, Ihsanoglu said an understanding that pits people against each other should not ascend to the presidency.
“The top of the state is not a place for frustration, partisanship, or alineation,” he said.
Another candidate, Selahattin Demirtas, was put forward by pro-Kurdish HDP party and is expected to struggle to break into double figures as many Kurds are likely to vote for Erdogan. AFP
