Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took the oath of office for a new presidential term on Saturday after winning re-election last weekend, extending his rule into a third decade.
"I, as president, swear upon my honour and integrity before the great Turkish nation and history to safeguard the existence and independence of the state," Erdoğan said during a ceremony at the parliament in Ankara, which was broadcast live.
Erdoğan received his mandate from the interim parliament speaker before taking the oath.
Türkiye's longest-serving leader, Erdoğan won 52.2% support in a May 28 runoff vote. His election victory defied most opinion polls.
His new five-year mandate allows Erdoğan to pursue the increasingly authoritarian policies that have polarised the country, a NATO member, but strengthened its position as a regional military power.
Later, the presidential complex will host an inauguration ceremony, which will be attended by high-level officials from 78 countries, including 21 heads of state, 13 prime ministers, parliamentary and ministerial-level officials, and representatives of international organizations, including NATO, the Organization of Turkic States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will be among the participants.
Türkiye went to the polls on May 28 for a presidential runoff after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote needed for an outright victory in the first round on May 14.
