Turkey’s chief executive, known as the President of the Republic of Türkiye, is directly elected by the citizens of Turkey every 5 years. The president serves as both the head of state and the head of government, meaning they lead the executive branch of the national government.
Eligibility for President
According to Article 101 of the Turkish Constitution. there are three main requirements to be eligible for president
- Be a Turkish citizen eligible to be a member of parliament
- Be at least 40 years old
- Have completed higher education
Candidates must resign from parliament if they are a member due to the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
Presidential Elections
Turkey holds direct presidential elections every 5 years. If no candidate receives an absolute majority (over 50%) of the vote in the first round, a runoff election is held between the top two candidates.
The candidate who receives the majority of votes in the runoff is elected president. If a candidate is unable to participate in the runoff for any reason, the next highest vote-getter from the first round takes their place.
Prior to constitutional changes in 2007, the president was elected by the Grand National Assembly rather than directly by the citizens.
Inauguration and Oath of Office
After being elected, the new president must recite the presidential oath of office before beginning their duties. The oath is outlined in Article 103 of the Constitution and must be taken in front of the Grand National Assembly.
The inauguration ceremony consists only of reciting the oath, which pledges to uphold the Turkish Constitution, democracy, and the principles of Atatürk among other things.
Presidential Term Limits
The president of Turkey can hold office for up to two 5-year terms, allowing them to serve a maximum of 10 years. The only exception is if a president leaves office early due to impeachment or a parliamentary decision. In that case, they could potentially serve an additional term.
Prior to 2007, presidents served a single 7-year term with no opportunity for re-election.
Vacancies and Succession
If the presidency becomes vacant with more than a year left until the next scheduled elections, a new election must be held within 45 days to choose the next president. They will serve out the remainder of the term.
If there is less than a year left, the presidential election is held at the same time as the regularly scheduled parliamentary elections.
Before 2017, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly would take over presidential duties temporarily in the event of a vacancy. Now the Vice President serves as acting president until the next election.
Presidential Powers
As both head of state and head of government, the President of Turkey holds significant executive powers under the Constitution. Some examples include:
- Appointing and dismissing ministers and other senior officials
- Serving as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces
- Appointing some members of the high courts and judicial councils
- Promulgating laws passed by parliament or vetoing them
- Issuing executive decrees
- Calling new parliamentary and presidential elections
- Appointing ambassadors and signing international treaties
Frequency of Entities:
President of Turkey: 14
Grand National Assembly: 5
Turkish Constitution: 3
Parliamentary elections: 2
Vice President: 2
Prime Minister: 0
Chief Executive: 1
Index of Economic Freedom Grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention.
| Main Powers | Election Process | Election Cycle 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive |
Limited powers and abdicates party membership upon election, appoints the prime minister and has the power to summon sessions of the TGNA, promulgate laws, and ratify international treaties. |
President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system, while prime minister is appointed by the president. |
5 years |
| Judicial |
Examines the constitutionality of laws and other government actions. |
Appointed by president. |
Mandatory retirement age of 65 |
| Legislative |
Writes legislation, supervises the Council of Ministers, and adopts the budget. |
Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi) members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system. |
4 years |
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What is the executive branch in Turkey?
The executive branch in Turkey has a dual structure. It is composed of the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers (Cabinet). The President of the Republic is the Head of the State. He/she represents the Republic of Turkey and the unity of the Turkish nation. The President’s term of office is five years.
How did Turkey change from a parliamentary to a presidential system?
Turkey transitioned from a parliamentary to a presidential system in July 2018, a month after Erdogan won the presidential election. The powers of the president were broadened after a 2017 referendum approving the change to an executive presidency. The post of prime minister was abolished and the president also became the head of government.
Who is a member of Parliament in Turkey?
It is composed of the President, Vice President and the heads of the ministries . According to the Turkish constitution, cabinet members can’t be a member of parliament due to separation of powers . The President of Turkey is elected by the people every five years.
Who was the first Turkish president?
The office of the President was established with the proclamation of the republic on October 29, 1923. In the voting held on the same day, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was unanimously elected as the first president. From this date until 2014, all presidents except Kenan Evren were elected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly.