Erdogan vows no re‑election bid, eyes new constitution by 2028
Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he does not plan to run again for the presidency of Turkey. His current term is his last, and the next elections will be held in 2028.
What do you need to know?
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he does not intend to run again for the presidency of Turkey. His current term is his last in accordance with current law.
- Constitutional change is one of Erdogan's main goals, as he describes the current constitution as "written by coup plotters" after the 1980 military coup.
- The next presidential elections in Turkey are scheduled for 2028, meaning Erdogan's current term will end in accordance with the law.
Erdogan's declaration
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured he does not intend to run again for the presidency.
He emphasized that he wants to introduce a new constitution that would serve the country, not his personal ambitions. Erdogan noted that his current term is his last, which is in line with current law.
- We want the new constitution not for ourselves but for our country. I have no interest in being re-elected or becoming a candidate again (for the presidency) - said Erdogan.
What changes in the constitution does Erdogan plan?
For months, Erdogan has been pushing for a change in the constitution, which he describes as "written by coup plotters". The current constitution was adopted after the 1980 military coup. The Turkish president aims to end the conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which may be an attempt to gain Kurdish support for the new constitution.
Erdogan's current term is his third, and his first term was served before the system changed from parliamentary to presidential. The introduction of the presidential system was preceded by a constitutional referendum in 2017, in which voters agreed to grant the president extensive powers, but still limited the number of terms to two.
