Erdogan admits of not being immortal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees himself as a mortal, a senior member of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said.

Commenting on Erdogan’s asking Turkish nation’s vote for the last time in next year’s elections, AKP’s deputy chair Numan Kurtulmus said Erdogan sees himself as a mortal.

“Turkey’s Constitution does not allow a president to be elected for the third time. This was what Erdogan meant. Also, our president sees himself as a mortal,” Kurtulmus said in an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV on Tuesday, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported.

Last week, Erdogan said next year’s election will be the last time “he will ask for support” and then will “pass the torch” to the younger generation. Erdogan who led the country for the last 20 years, first as prime minister and then as president is facing presidential elections in June next year.

"Ultimately, we are all human beings. People naturally have a lifespan. Authority also has a term. In Turkey, the presidency is limited to two terms. Our president here expresses the limitation stated in the Constitution. And as a mortal, he also means that he has to fulfill his responsibilities until the last moment,” Kurtulmus said.

Under the new presidential system in Turkey which came into effect in 2017, presidents are limited to two full terms in office.