International leaders to attend Erdoğan’s inauguration

Some 20 leaders have confirmed their attendance for the official ceremony when President Gül will hand over office to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan More than 20 heads of states and governments have announced their attendance for the official ceremony when outgoing President Abdullah Gül will hand over office to President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 28.

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek has already called for an extraordinary session of the General Assembly to gather when Erdoğan takes an oath of office before Parliament.

Meanwhile, at a Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) decided that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will serve as acting prime minister for 24 hours after Erdoğan takes over as president.

Accordingly, Davutoğlu will serve as acting prime minister from Aug. 28 to 29 when Erdoğan will formally name Davutoğlu as prime minister and provide him with a mandate to form a new Cabinet. Until then, Erdoğan will be chairing a Cabinet meeting for the last time when it gathers on Aug. 25.

After Erdoğan takes his oath before Parliament, he will be given the mandate by Parliament Speaker Çiçek. The mandate was sent to the Parliament Speaker’s Office by the president of the Supreme Election Board (YSK) after the top election body announced on Aug. 15 the final results of the Aug. 10 election, which saw Erdoğan win by 52 percent.

According to the Constitution, Erdoğan must take this oath before assuming office:

“In my capacity as President I swear upon my honor and integrity before the Turkish Grand National Assembly and before history to safeguard the existence and...