Turkey: Erdogan launched his presidential campaign

Turkey: Erdogan launched his presidential campaign

  Islamic-conservative Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, candidate for presidential election in August, Saturday launched his campaign by promising his supporters that he would be a head of state with a strong power capable of engaging the Turkey in a new beginning.

  'We are the first step towards a new beginning', Erdogan said before a crowd of enthusiastic supporters during his first election rally in Samsun (north).

  Erdogan, who announced on July 1, his candidacy for president, was loudly cheered by supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) waving Turkish flags and banners of the party.
Erdogan made ​​a symbolic choice by organizing Samsun his first election rally because it is in this port of the Black Sea as the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk initiated the war of independence against the Turkish foreign powers in 1919.
'95 Years later, we enter the presidential campaign in Samsun, a new step for a new Turkey, 'said the Prime Minister.

  Islamic-conservative prime minister, which his opponents accuse of trying to impose its Muslim religious values ​​to the detriment of the country's secular regime, remains the most popular politician and should easily win the first round of presidential elections on August 10.

  Erdogan reiterated its commitment to strengthening the powers of the president to be elected in August for the first universal suffrage, while this function exerted by the outgoing President Abdullah Gul, was hitherto mainly ceremonial.

  "We proved that we were serving the people ', yet assured Erdogan promised that the new president fully exercise its authority and its willingness to extend has raised concerns in the country.
'Is it possible to be the Head of State and sitting doing nothing' is he exclaimed.

Regarded by his supporters as the man who has provided stability in the country, Erdogan, 60, has also faced a bribery scandal involving close to the regime and a strong protest, marked by demonstrations, his opponents accusing him of authoritarianism.