PM Erdoğan to announce ‘vision statement’ for presidency

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will announce his “vision statement” for the upcoming presidential elections with a ceremony in Istanbul today, with the participation of some nongovernmental organizations, academics, minority representatives and artists.

Erdoğan, who is running for presidency against Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu and Selahattin Demirtaş, will announce the statement that outlines his program and vision for leadership if he is to win the elections.
 
Preparing for the first-ever presidential elections that will be held by popular vote in the country, Erdoğan is expected to outline his “2023 targets,” a date Erdoğan refers to, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic.

According to pro-government daily Yeni Şafak, the statement includes a wide variety of issues, such as writing a new Constitution, the Kurdish peace process, Alevis’ problems and accession to the European Union.

Erdoğan has invited religious leaders, such as Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva, acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate Aram Ateşyan, Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and Turkish Syriac Catholic Deputy Patriarch Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sağ to the event to be held in Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul.