International

Turkey's Erdogan Takes Oath As President, Ushering In His Third Term

Erdogan, 69, won a new five-year term in a runoff presidential race last week that could stretch his 20-year rule in the key NATO country that straddles Europe and Asia into a quarter-century.

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Turkey Election
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Turkiye's longtime leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took the oath of office on Saturday, ushering in his third presidential term that followed three stints as prime minister.

Erdogan, 69, won a new five-year term in a runoff presidential race last week that could stretch his 20-year rule in the key NATO country that straddles Europe and Asia into a quarter-century.

He took the oath in a session in parliament before an inauguration ceremony to be attended by dozens of foreign dignitaries.

The Turkish leader will announce his new Cabinet later on Saturday. The lineup should indicate whether there will be a continuation of unorthodox economic policies or a return to more conventional ones amid a cost-of-living crisis.

Erdogan has led Turkey for 20 years now either as the president of prime minister. He is the country's longest-serving leader. 

Erdogan overcame Turkey's ongoing economic crisis and criticism over the response to a February earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people to win polls.