Davutoğlu eyes long term prime ministry

ANKARA

Davutoğlu and his Cabinet paid homage to Atatürk, with the former laying a wreath at his mausoleum. AA Photo

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has indicated he hopes that his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will remain in power under his leadership until the centennial celebration for the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.

“I promise on behalf of our government, before you and having history as a witness, that we will work hard to make our country one of the most prestigious and strongest countries in the world; so our people can have human rights and freedoms with a full democracy; and have justice for all citizens of the Republic of Turkey without any exceptions on the 100th year of our Republic,” Davutoğlu wrote on Sept. 8, as he signed the Special Book at Anıtkabir, the tomb of the founder of Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Davutoğlu and his Cabinet paid homage to Atatürk, with the former laying a wreath at his mausoleum.

They visited Anıtkabir on the day they were set to hold their first meeting at the Council of Ministers later on Sept. 8, after winning a vote of confidence at Parliament on Sept. 6.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been in power since 2002, winning three consecutive parliamentary elections in 2002, 2007 and 2011.

Davutoğlu, the former foreign minister since 2009, succeeded now-President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as both the AKP leader and prime minister after the latter was elected as the head of the state in a popular vote on Aug. 10.