President of Turkey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Türkiye
Presidential Standard
Presidential Seal
Incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 28 August 2014
Executive branch of the Turkish government
Style	Mr. President (informal) The Honorable (formal) His Excellency (formal, diplomatic)
Member of	Cabinet National Security Council Supreme Military Council
Residence	Presidential Complex
Appointer	Direct popular vote
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Turkey
Inaugural holder	Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Formation	29 October 1923
Deputy	Vice President
Salary	₺1,428,000/US$ 75,435 (2023)

The President of Turkey is a very important leader. They are the head of state and head of government for Turkey. This means they represent the country and lead its government. The President also leads the Turkish military as its commander-in-chief.

The role of President in Turkey started on October 29, 1923. The first President was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who also founded the Republic of Turkey. For a long time, the President's job was mostly ceremonial. This means they were a symbol, while the prime minister of Turkey held most of the power.

However, things changed in 2017. New rules were approved that gave the President full executive powers. This means the President now has a lot more direct control over the government. The job of prime minister was also removed.

Today, the President is chosen by the people of Turkey in an election. They serve for five years and can be re-elected once. The current President is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been in office since August 28, 2014.

History of the Presidency

The role of President began when Turkey became a republic on October 29, 1923. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was chosen as the first President. For many years, Presidents were elected by the Turkish Parliament.

Some early Presidents, like Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and İsmet İnönü, were also leaders of political parties. Later, rules changed so that Presidents had to be neutral and not belong to a political party.

In 2007, a big change happened. People voted to allow the President to be elected directly by the public. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the first President elected this way in 2014. After more changes in 2017, the President became both the head of state and the head of government.

What the President Does

Leading the Country

As the head of state, the President represents Turkey to its own people and to other countries around the world. It is against the law to insult the President in Turkey.

Party Leadership

Before 2017, Presidents had to leave their political parties to be fair to everyone. But after the 2017 changes, Presidents can now be part of a political party. This is because they are elected by the people and lead the government.

Being a Regional Leader

Turkey's Presidents are seen as important leaders in their region. This is because Turkey is in a key location. It also has a strong economy and military, and a rich history. Presidents work to help with diplomacy and cooperation in the area.

How a President is Chosen

Who Can Be President?

To become President, a person must meet certain requirements:

• They must be a Turkish citizen.
• They must be at least 40 years old.
• They must have finished higher education.

If someone who is a member of the Turkish Parliament wants to be President, they must give up their seat. This keeps the different parts of government separate.

The Election Process

The President is elected by a direct vote from the people. To win, a candidate needs to get more than half of all the votes. If no one gets enough votes in the first round, there is a second election. This second vote happens two Sundays later. Only the top two candidates from the first round can take part. The one who gets the most votes in the second round wins.

Taking the Oath

Before starting their job, the President must say an Oath of Office. This oath is a promise to protect Turkey and its people. It is a very important part of the inauguration ceremony. The ceremony takes place in the Turkish Parliament.

President's Term and What Happens if the Office is Empty

How Long is a Term?

The President serves for five years. They can be elected one more time. If a President's term ends early, for example, if they are removed from office, they can still run for two full terms later. The current President stays in office until the new President officially starts.

When the Office is Empty

If the President's office becomes empty for any reason, a new election is held. If there is less than a year until the next general election for Parliament, the presidential election happens at the same time. If there is more than a year, the election happens within 45 days.

Accountability

After the 2017 changes, the President can be investigated if there are concerns about their actions. The Parliament can start an investigation. If enough members agree, the President can be tried by the Constitutional Court. If found guilty, the President would be removed from office. Before 2017, it was much harder to hold the President accountable.

Where the President Lives and Works

Presidential Palace is located in Ankara

The main home and office for the President is the Presidential Complex in Ankara. It opened in 2014. Before that, the Çankaya Mansion was the President's home from 1923 to 2014. There are also other places the President uses, like the Huber Mansion and the Vahdettin Pavilion.

Key Duties of the President

The President has many important duties, including:

• Giving the opening speech at the Parliament each year.
• Calling Parliament to meet if needed.
• Approving new laws or sending them back to Parliament to be changed.
• Appointing and removing the Vice President of Turkey and other government ministers.
• Leading the Turkish Armed Forces.
• Appointing important military officers.
• Appointing ambassadors to other countries and welcoming ambassadors from other countries.
• Making international agreements with other nations.
• Suggesting changes to the Constitution of Turkey for people to vote on.
• Being able to reduce or forgive criminal sentences for certain reasons, like illness.
• Calling for new elections for Parliament and the presidency.
• Presenting the country's budget plan to Parliament.
• Leading the National Security Council.
• Declaring a state of emergency, which Parliament must approve.
• Issuing executive orders to manage the government.
• Appointing many judges and members of important courts.

Acting President

The official Seal of the Presidency, used on documents.

If the President is temporarily away, like for illness or travel, the Vice President of Turkey steps in as Acting President. They do the President's job until the President returns. If the President's office becomes empty permanently, the Vice President acts as President until a new President is elected. This new election must happen within 45 days. Before 2017, the speaker of the Grand National Assembly would serve as Acting President.

Latest Election

The most recent presidential election in Turkey happened in May 2023. This election chose the President for a new five-year term.

Timeline of presidents

This timeline shows the Presidents of Turkey and their political connections when they started their terms.

See also

In Spanish: Presidente de Turquía para niños

• President of Northern Cyprus
• Official state car
• Presidential Guard Regiment
• List of cabinets of Turkey