| President of the Republic of Turkey |
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Presidential Seal |
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Presidential Standard |
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Incumbent
Abdullah Gül |
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| Residence | Çankaya Köşkü |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk |
| Formation | October 29, 1923 |
| Website | www.cankaya.gov.tr |
| Republic of Turkey |
This article is part of the series: |
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See also
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Other countries · Atlas |
The President of Turkey (Cumhurbaşkanı) is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions. In this capacity he represents the Republic of Turkey, and the unity of the Turkish nation; he ensures the implementation of the Turkish constitution, and the organized and harmonious functioning of the organs of state. The articles from 101 to 106 of the constitution establish all the requirements, election, duties and responsibilities for the office of the President. The office of the President of Turkey was established with the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923. The current office-holder is the 11th president, Abdullah Gül since August 28, 2007.
Contents |
| President (Cumhurbaşkanı) | Age |
|---|---|
| Kenan Evren | July 17, 1917 |
| Süleyman Demirel | November 1, 1924 |
| Ahmet Necdet Sezer | September 13, 1941 |
In order to become the President of Turkey, the candidate must have completed higher education, be at least forty years of age, and be a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly or a Turkish citizen eligible to be a deputy.
The president-elect has to sever his relations, if any, with his political party, and his status as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly must cease.
The election of the President must begin at least 30 days before the term of office of the incumbent president expires or 10 days after the presidency falls vacant, and must be completed within 30 days of the beginning of the election. Candidates must be declared to the bureau of the parliament within the first 10 days of this period, and elections must be completed within the remaining 20 days.
Formerly, the President was elected by the members of the Turkish Parliament. According to an amendment that was drafted in 2007, the future presidents shall be elected by the citizens through a public vote. The candidates must be over forty years old and must have completed their higher education. They can either be members of the Turkish Parliament, or common Turkish citizens who fulfill these requirements and who are eligible to become members of parliament.
The president is selected for a term of office of 5 years (it was previously 7 years, but has been reduced to 5 years in 2007), and may be re-elected only once, for a second term.
The term of office of the incumbent president continues until the president-elect takes office.
On assuming office, the president takes the following oath before the parliament:
"In my capacity as President of the Republic, I swear upon my honor and repute before the great Turkish nation and before history to safeguard the existence and independence of the state, the indivisible integrity of country and nation, and the sovereignty of the nation without restriction or stipulation; to abide by the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy, the principles and reforms of Atatürk, and the principle of a secular republic; not to deviate from the ideal of all enjoying human rights and basic freedoms in peace, prosperity and in a spirit of national solidarity and justice; to preserve and enhance the glory and honor of the Republic of Turkey and to work with all my strength to perform with impartiality the functions that I have assumed."
The president performs also the duties of selection and appointment, and other duties conferred by the constitution and laws.
All presidential decrees, except those which the president is empowered to enact on his own without the signatures of the prime minister and the minister concerned, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and other laws, must be signed by the prime minister, and the ministers concerned. The prime minister and the ministers concerned are accountable for these decrees. The decisions and orders signed by the president on his own initiatives may not be appealed against to any judicial authority, including the Constitutional Court. The president may be impeached for high treason on the proposal of at least one-third of the total number of the members of the parliament, and by the decision of at least three-fourths of the total number of the members.
In the event of a temporary absence of the president on account of illness, travel abroad or similar circumstances, the speaker of the parliament serves as acting president, and exercises the powers of the president until the president resumes his functions, and in the event that the presidency falls vacant as a result of death or resignation or for any other reason, until the election of a new president.
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