In first speech after his swearing, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan promised his citizens to uphold ir fundamental rights. "We will ensure that all our citizens can enjoy all ir rights, freedoms and wealth of our country, irrespective of ir origin or belief," Erdoğan said to several thousand guests in presidential palace in Ankara. He wants to be president of all 81 million Turks.

Almost two weeks after his election, Erdoğan had taken over oath for next five years. As a head of state and government in one person, he will gain significantly more power in future. "We are leaving behind a system that has caused political, social and economic chaos," Erdoğan said. He spoke of a "restart" for Turkey. In "New Era", Turkey will "improve in every area, from democracy to fundamental rights and freedoms, from economy to large investments". Erdoğan promised to make Turkey one of world's largest economic powers.

With Erdoğan's swearing, constitutional reform was finally implemented, for which Turkish people had voted in a controversial referendum. Instead of previous parliamentary system, re is now a presidential system in Turkey. Critics fear that this will make Turkey a one-man rule in which citizens ' fundamental freedoms are being cut.

In new system re is no longer position of Prime Minister. Erdoğan can enact decrees by law, and he may appoint his ministers without assent of Parliament. In fact, Erdoğan has been ruled by decree for two years. This is possible because, since summer of 2016, failed coup attempt in Turkey has been a state of emergency. Prior to election, Erdoğan had announced that he would want to reverse state of emergency.

Erdoğan makes his son-in-law Finance minister

On Monday evening, Erdoğan introduced his new cabinet of government. It includes 16 ministers, ten less than so far. Many posts have been occupied by well-known people, but re are some innovations. The first Vice-president was appointed Fuat Oktay, who was previously Secretary of State and advisor to former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım. In Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu remains in Ministry of Justice Abdülhamit Gül. The interior minister is also Suleiman Soylu. New is Erdoğan's son-in-law Berat Albayrak. He's going to be finance minister. The chief of staff of Turkish Air Force, Hulusi Akar, becomes defense minister.

Some ministries have been merged, Erdoğan said. According to media, this was foreign Ministry, which was merged with authority for EU affairs. Several offices dealing with business and commerce have become a major trade ministry.

Over past two years, tens of thousands of state officials have been dismissed in Turkey and numerous journalists and opposition detained. Even shortly before Erdoğan's swearing, more than 18,500 state officials were sacked by decree. In most cases, y are accused of "links to terrorist organisations." In addition, or media facilities were closed, three newspapers and one television station.

Date Of Update: 10 July 2018, 12:02