Turkey’s new president emphasizes unity

World Today

For the first time in their history, Turkish voters have directly elected a president.

He is former prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. For details, CCTV’s Michal Bardavid reports from Istanbul.

Turkey’s governing party said on Monday it will select a new prime minister at the end of August to replace Erdogan, who won the country’s first direct presidential election.

Erodgan emphasizes unity during victory speech

For the first time in their history, Turkish voters have directly elected a president. For details, CCTV’s Michal Bardavid reports from Istanbul.

The Justice and Development Party, or AKP, will hold its party congress on Aug. 27 to select the new prime minister, who will also be the new party head. Turkey’s constitution stipulates the president has to cut ties to any political party after being elected.

No specific name for the premiership was discussed during Monday’s meeting, AKP spokesman Huseyin Celik said.

Erdogan won Sunday’s election with 51.79 percent, according to election board figures released Monday. Challenger Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu got 38.44 percent and Selahattin Demirtas, a young Kurdish politician, got 9.76 percent. Turnout was 74.13 percent — a relatively low figure for Turkey, where voting is mandatory.

Report compiled with information from The Associated Press.

For more on Turkey’s political developments, Cenk Sidar joins the show. He is the Managing Director for Sidar Global Advisors.

 

Turkey\'s Erdogan begins search for new premier

For more on Turkey's political developments, Cenk Sidar joins the show. He is the Managing Director for Sidar Global Advisors.