The president of Turkey, officially the president of the Republic of Türkiye, is the head of state and head of government of Turkey. The president directs the executive branch of the national government and is the commander-in-chief of the Turkish military. The president also heads the National Security Council.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the first president.
Presidential Palace is located in Ankara
A constitutional referendum was held in Turkey on 16 April 2017 on whether to approve 18 proposed amendments to the Turkish constitution that were brought forward by the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). As a result of its approval, the office of Prime Minister was abolished and the existing parliamentary system of government was replaced with an executive presidency and a presidential system. The number of seats in Parliament was raised from 550 to 600, while, among a series of other proposals, the president was given more control over appointments to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). The referendum was held under a state of emergency that was declared following the failed military coup attempt in July 2016.
A ballot paper and envelope used in the referendum. 'Evet' translates to Yes while 'Hayır' translates to No.
The AKP presenting their constitutional proposals to Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman, December 2016
The Parliamentary Constitutional Commission scrutinising the proposed changes
MPs voting on the proposed amendments, January 2017