Global Courant
The Turkish president is expected to unveil a new cabinet that will prioritize resolving the crisis-hit economy.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be sworn in as head of state after winning a historic second round of elections to extend his two decades of rule for another five years.
The 69-year-old leader will appoint his cabinet later on Saturday, which will be tasked with dealing with an economic crisis that has witnessed runaway inflation and the collapse of the lira.
Turkey’s longest-serving leader faces significant diplomatic challenges amid tensions with the West.
Saturday’s inauguration into parliament will be followed by a lavish ceremony at the presidential palace in the capital Ankara, attended by dozens of world leaders.
Turkey’s transformative but divisive leader won the May 28 runoff against a powerful opposition coalition, and despite an economic crisis and severe criticism after a devastating earthquake in February that killed more than 50,000 people.
Erdogan won 52.2 percent of the vote, while his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu won 47.8 percent, official results show.
Economic crisis
Addressing the country’s economic problems will be Erdogan’s priority with inflation at 43.70 percent, in part because of his unorthodox policy of cutting interest rates to boost growth.
Turkey’s new MPs began their first sitting after the May 14 elections on Friday, which was also attended by Erdogan.
His alliance has a majority in parliament with 600 seats.
Erdogan’s victory came against a united opposition coalition led by Kilicdaroglu, whose future as leader of the CHP party remains in doubt following the defeat.
Sweden’s NATO bid
Meanwhile, NATO allies anxiously await Ankara to give the green light to Sweden’s bid to join the US-led defense alliance for a summit in July.
Erdogan is dragging his feet in approving the application, accusing Stockholm of harboring “terrorists” from the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will attend Erdogan’s inauguration this weekend and hold talks with him, the alliance said on Friday.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Twitter that “a clear message” emerged at a NATO meeting in Oslo for Turkey and Hungary to start the ratification process.
His Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu replied: “A crystal clear message to our Swedish Friends! Fulfill your obligations under the Trilateral Memorandum and take concrete steps in the fight against terrorism.”
