IN PHOTOS: PM Erdoğan’s ‘final group speech’ moves deputies to tears

Rıza Özel – ANKARA

“I want you to know that I’m not distressed while I’m speaking here, perhaps for the last time on this lectern. If my nation elects me [as president], another friend will address you from this desk in the new legislative session.”

After Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan uttered these words at the end of his speech during the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group meeting on July 22, the joyful mood in the large room suddenly soured. 

Even previous bombastic chants such as “One flag, one homeland, one Erdoğan” were replaced by somber murmuring. 

The watching deputies seemed like they did not expect such a farewell, despite the fact that they had earlier “unanimously” nominated Erdoğan as the AKP’s candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for Aug. 10, thus paving the way for his departure from the Prime Ministry.

Click here to browse the gallery of photos showing emotional scenes from PM Erdoğan’s “farewell speech.”