Erdogan: I will not run for president again

2025-05-22 15:17:31Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that he does not intend to run for president again, emphasizing that Turkey needs a new Constitution, which reflects the spirit of modern times and democratic values.

"I have no intention of running again. Our only goal is to increase the reputation of our country. Turkey is changing, the world is changing. Do you think that in such a dynamic world we can move forward with a Constitution created at the time of the coup, which still smells of the mentality of the putschists? Turkey can no longer move forward with such a Constitution. We need a Constitution proposed by civilians, not by the putschists," Erdogan declared, according to the state-run Anadolu agency.

Erdogan has long been a supporter of drafting a new Constitution, which he says will be more democratic, more civil, and in line with the contemporary needs of society.

Turkey's current constitution was adopted in 1982, following the 1980 military coup, and although it has been amended several times, critics say it still contains elements of an authoritarian system and putschist logic.

However, the Turkish opposition often expresses doubts about Erdogan's intentions, claiming that his reforms aim to strengthen personal power and weaken independent institutions.

However, the declaration of his withdrawal from the presidential race could open a new political dynamic in the country, especially on the eve of the 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Erdogan was re-elected president for a third time in 2023, and under the current mandate, he will remain in office until 2028.

Analysts predict that the issue of the new Constitution will be a central topic in the coming years, as the shape of the constitutional system will determine the rules of political competition in post-Erdogan Turkey.


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