Erdogan pledges no re‑election, aims for constitutional reform
Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he does not plan to run for the office of the President of Turkey again. His current term is his last, and the next elections will take place in 2028.
What do you need to know?
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he does not intend to run for President of Turkey again. His current term will be his last according to the current law.
- Constitutional change is one of Erdogan’s main goals, as he describes the current constitution as "written by coup plotters" following the 1980 coup d'état.
- The next presidential elections in Turkey are scheduled for 2028, implying that Erdogan's current term will conclude in accordance with the law.
Erdogan's declaration
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, assured that he does not intend to run for office again.
He emphasised that he wants to introduce a new constitution that would serve the country, rather than his personal ambitions. Erdogan stressed that his current term is his last, which aligns with the 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 does Erdogan plan for the constitution?
Erdogan has been advocating for changes to the constitution, which he describes as "written by coup plotters". The current constitution was instituted after the 1980 coup. The President of Turkey aims to resolve the conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which may be an effort to garner Kurdish support for the proposed new constitution.
Erdogan's current term is his third, and he held his first term before the system transitioned from parliamentary to presidential. The introduction of the presidential system was preceded by a constitutional referendum in 2017, during which voters agreed to grant the president broad powers, but retained the limitation of two terms.
