ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday, ''President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has designated me to form the 59th government. We will submit the list of new cabinet to President Sezer as soon as possible.''
Addressing journalists following his meeting with President Sezer, Erdogan said, ''President Sezer has designated me to form the 59th government. I want to thank him for his appreciation.''
''A defect of the democratic life was removed with the by-election in southeastern province of Siirt on March 9, 2003. The democratic will want us to form the new government as soon as possible and take immediate action to solve serious problems of our country. We will complete our works as soon as possible with the awareness of this rightful requests of our people. We will submit the list of new cabinet to President Sezer as soon as possible,'' he added.
Erdogan said on Tuesday, ''some changes can be made in the cabinet. However, they will not be serious changes.''
Erdogan responded to questions of journalists following his meeting with President Sezer.
Question: Will you submit the list of new cabinet tomorrow?
Erdogan: There is not such a timing for the time being. We will complete our works and submit the list of new cabinet to President Sezer as soon as possible.
Question: Will number of deputies decrease?
Erdogan: We plan to decrease number of deputies.
Question: What are your priorities as the prime minister of the 59th government?
Erdogan: You will see these priorities in our government program. We plan to make some changes in the former government of the AK Party.
Question: Will you make changes in the cabinet?
Erdogan: Some changes can be made in the cabinet. There can be some revisions. However, they will not be serious changes.
Question: Did President Sezer recommend you anything?
Erdogan: We exchanged views in a meaningful and positive atmosphere.
Question: You served as mayor of Istanbul. Now, you have been designated to for the new government. Do you target to become the next president?
Erdogan: Formation of the 59th government is on top of our agenda. We do not have any other agenda except for this.
ERDOGAN'S CV
Erdogan was born in 1954 in Istanbul. Erdogan who went to primary and secondary schools in Istanbul, studied in Marmara University's Faculty of Economics and Commerce. Erdogan who dealt with trade and politics for a long time, also played football professionally when he was young.
Erdogan who was a member of the National Turkish Students Union when he was studying in the university, was elected as the leader of the National Salvation Party's (MSP) Beyoglu Youth Branch in 1976 and MSP's Istanbul branch head the same year.
When Erdogan left his post in Istanbul Electricity, Tunnel and Trolley Enterprises (IETT) on Sept. 12, 1980, he started to work in private sector and he later set up his own business.
Erdogan continued dealing with politics in the Welfare Party (RP) which was founded in 1983. Erdogan was elected as the chairman of RP's office in Beyoglu in 1984, Istanbul branch's head in 1985 and a member of the RP's Central Decision Executive Board (MKYK). Erdogan who was the deputy candidate in 1986 by-elections, became a mayor candidate from Beyoglu district in 1989.
The election document of Erdogan, who was elected as a deputy candidate again in 1991, was cancelled by Higher Board of Election according to preferential voting system.
Erdogan who continued to work as the head of RP's Istanbul branch was elected as Istanbul mayor in elections held on March 27, 1994.
Erdogan was convicted under Article 312 of Turkish Penal Code due to a poem he read in a public meeting in Siirt in 1997. Erdogan was prisoned on March 26, 1999 and he stayed in prison until July 24, 1999. Erdogan served as Istanbul mayor for 4.5 years.
Erdogan who became the leader of the reformist flank within the Virtue Party (FP) which was set up following the closure of Welfare Party (RP) by the Constitutional Court on January 16, 1998, founded Justice and Development Party on August 14, 2001 by the closure of FP on July 22, 2001. He was elected as the leader of AK Party by the Founding Board.
Higher Board of Election didn't approve Erdogan's deputy candidacy for the elections held on Nov. 3, 2002. While Abdullah Gul became the prime minister of the 58th government formed following the elections on Nov. 3, 2002, Erdogan continued to be the leader of AK Party.
Erdogan was elected as a deputy from Siirt when elections were re-held in this city on March 9, 2003 as amendments were made in the Constitution and the laws lifting the obstacles that stayed in front of his being deputy candidate.
Erdogan is married with four children.