Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in on Saturday for a new 5-year presidential term, after winning the run-off presidential election last Sunday, and the inauguration ceremony is expected to take place in the evening at the presidential complex in the capital, Ankara, in the presence of the heads of 21 countries.
"As president, I swear with the honour and integrity of the great Turkish nation and its history to preserve the existence and independence of the state," he said at a televised ceremony in parliament in Ankara. I must abide by the constitution, the rule of law, democracy, the principles and reforms of (Mustafa Kemal) Atatürk and the principles of the secular republic."
Erdogan was sworn in after receiving the inauguration document from interim parliament speaker Devlet Bahceli.
In the presidential run-off on May 28, Erdogan won 52.2 percent of the vote, and his victory came against the expectations of most opinion polls and despite a costly living crisis that was seen as weakening his chances of winning.
After his inauguration, Erdogan will visit the mausoleum of the founder of the republic (Ataturk) and later head to the presidential complex to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Anadolu reported that when Erdogan arrives at the first gate of the complex, the president's motorcade will be joined by the Knights of the Protocol unit, and then 101 artillery shells will be fired, and at the same time 101 artillery shells will be launched at the headquarters of the land, air and naval forces.
The ceremony will be attended by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, the Turkish Traditional Music Orchestra, and the Armed Forces Military Music Orchestra.
According to Anatolia, the heads of 21 countries will participate in the ceremony, and President Erdogan will hold a dinner in honor of his guests at Çankaya Palace in Ankara, this evening.
The Turkish president is expected to announce the new cabinet after dinner.