July 15 Coup Attempt Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL
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GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL

President Erdoğan learned of the FETÖ’s coup attempt when his brother-in-law, Ziya İlgen, phoned him in Marmaris where he had been vacationing. Having received the news about the traitorous attempt, he said “Bismillah” and performed prayer.

He said, “My brother-in-law called me around 9:30 p.m. First, we were confused about the time. He said, ‘There is movement around the Beylerbeyi Palace.’ I could not believe this news. I asked, ‘Ziya, are you kidding me? There is no such thing.’ Then, I phoned MİT [National Intelligence Organization] Undersecretary [Hakan Fidan] and Chief of the General Staff [Hulusi Akar], but I could not reach them.”

Video
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources recounted the coup and assassination attempt
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Minister of Energy and Natural Resources recounted the coup and assassination attempt

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:05:15
A team of putschists headed to Marmaris on the night of the coup attempt to assassinate President Erdoğan, who was staying there on vacation. Berat Albayrak, who was with Erdoğan in Marmaris, recounts in great detail how the president learned of the coup attempt that night, his reacted and his every movement.
EXPLANATION
NOTE:WHO IS ZİYA İLGEN?
  • President Erdoğan’s brother-in-law is Ziya İlgen, the husband of his sister. İlgen is a retired teacher. He is also known as a businessman who does not like to appear in front of cameras or make statements to the public. İlgen has a quiet personality.

GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL
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GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL

President Erdoğan convened press members at the hotel and made a statement about the coup attempt. Stating that the coup attempt was an uprising against the national will, President Erdoğan stressed that putschist soldiers would be punished in accordance with legal rules.

President Erdoğan invited people to gather in squares against the insurgency.

Video
President Erdoğan’s first statement regarding the coup
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President Erdoğan’s first statement regarding the coup

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:04:40
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the press to his hotel and delivered a statement. Noting that the coup attempt was a revolt movement against the national will, Erdoğan called people out to the streets. However, this press statement did not reach the people. It spread on social media hours after the events.
GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL
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GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL

President Erdoğan connected to CNN’s live broadcast,

presented by Hande Fırat, on Facetime and reacted to the insurgency, calling on people to take to the squares.

Video
Erdoğan calls his people
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Erdoğan calls his people

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:05:48
During the night of treason, upon seeing that his statements to journalists were not broadcast, President Erdoğan connected with CNN Türk’s Hande Fırat over Facetime and called on the people to resist the coup attempt. He asserted that the traitors would be punished, and said: “I invite all my people to the squares and airports.”
EXPLANATION
NOTE:ERDOĞAN CONNECTED TO CNN’S PROGRAM BY FACETIME
  • President Erdoğan made his first statement on television related to the military coup. Connecting to the live broadcast presented by CNN Türk’s Ankara representative Hande Fırat on the phone, President Erdoğan expressed his opposition to the coup. He said, "Today's development is unfortunately a move of insurgency by a minority within our Armed Forces, and a move which belongs to the parallel structure and which is incited and guided by it as their superior mind. I believe that they will be duly punished by a good response that we will give as the nation against this move which is aimed at the unity, solidarity and integrity of our country.” 

DALAMAN AIRPORT
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DALAMAN AIRPORT

After arriving at the Dalaman Airport, Erdoğan’s Istanbul-bound plane, a Gulfstream G450-type TC-ATA, took off.

President Erdoğan explained the moments that followed after boarding the plane:

"We did our broadcast and the pilot in the helicopter has been here with me for years. I asked him, ‘In how many minutes can you get to Dalaman from here? What is your security?’ This is very interesting, he said, ‘I will not get caught by them until the plane runs out of fuel.’ And immediately, the whole family, we boarded, took off, and indeed we had preparations at four different points.

The planes were waiting for us at four different points. Dalaman, Bodrum, Çıldır and İzmir.

Meanwhile, our contact with Istanbul continued but the pilot did not know where we were going to fly.

Take the average of this, and fly,’ I said to the pilot. The pilot is a pilot I have known for years. Then different information came. 'What about the runway?’ I told him. 'The runway has been darkened,' he said. To my surprise, the tower was under occupation. We contacted the Istanbul Police Chief [Mustafa Çalışkan]. 'In how many minutes can you clear the tower?' I asked. 'I can clear it in 10 to 15 minutes,' he said. They cleared it. The runway lights were illuminated. We were already continuing on our way. We would have landed even if it had not been illuminated.

I asked the pilot, 'Can you land in the darkness?' 'I can, but I cannot put you at risk,' he said. I asked 'Why?' 'They can put something there like a truck or a tank,’ he said.

Our plane was a plane that could take off in a very short distance. 'I cannot put you at risk' he said. I said, 'How much fuel is there?' 'There is fuel enough for three to four hours of flight,' he said. He said he could provide light with the headlights. We landed, but from the moment we landed, planes were flying at low altitude. Of course, when the low altitude flights were traveling faster than the speed of light, serious explosion sounds broke out. My grandchildren were beside me, and they were scared.”

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Erdoğan’s plane took off from Dalaman
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Erdoğan’s plane took off from Dalaman

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:02:38
Putschist soldiers who were informed that Erdoğan’s plane landed in Dalaman raided the plane as soon as it landed but could not find Erdoğan. Erdoğan and his family traveled to Dalaman by helicopter and quickly boarded the plane after putchists took off to Marmaris by helicopter. Although the putschists tried to obscure the CCTV recordings, the cameras recorded the events second by second.
ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT
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ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT

Having received the information that President Erdoğan

would come to Istanbul, Istanbul Police Chief Mustafa Çalışkan ordered Special Operation teams to conduct an operation on the Air Traffic Control Tower of the Atatürk Airport. Putschist soldiers were detained.

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Operation at the Atatürk Airport
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Operation at the Atatürk Airport

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
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Istanbul Police Commissioner Mustafa Çalışkan ordered Special Operations squads conduct an operation upon learning that President Erdoğan was going to land in Istanbul. Wıth that order, an operation was conducted on the Air Traffic Control Tower of the Atatürk Airport. Putschist soldiers were taken under custody at the end of the operation.
GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL
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GRAND YAZICI CLUB TURBAN HOTEL

The soldiers who aimed to assassinate President
Erdoğan arrived at the Marmaris hotel. The helicopters trying to land in threedifferent areas could not land because of the dust, and the assassination team had to rappel to the ground instead. The assassination team meeting at the
beach for an attack on the President's hotel blockaded the hotel. During the clash, Mehmet Çetin, a presidential guard, and Nedip Cengiz Eker, a police officer at the Marmaris Police Department, were martyred, while nine other police officers were injured.

FOTO GALERİ: 15 Temmuz gecesi Marmaris’te yaşananlar

Video
Assassination attempt of President Erdoğan
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Assassination attempt of President Erdoğan

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
01:00
Putschists established team and traveled to Marmaris in three helicopters to assassinate President Erdoğan. The putschists landed in different locations and raided the hotel the president was staying in. Erdoğan’s bodyguard and one police officer were killed by gunfire in the attack.
ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT
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ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT

The TC-ATA plane, which was carrying the Minister of

Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak and others, landed at the Istanbul Atatürk Airport by eluding the F-16 jets used by putschist soldiers. The controller gave punctual information to the pilot of the TC-ATA plane, one of the planes in the prime ministerial fleet, about the movement of the F-16 jets. The plane landed on left runways numbered 3 and 5 so that it could park quickly. President Erdoğan was greeted by thousands of people at the airport.

FOTO GALERİ: 15 Temmuz gecesi Atatürk Havalimanı’nda yaşananlar

Video
Erdoğan delivered a press conference at the airport
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Erdoğan delivered a press conference at the airport

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:10:43
On the night of the coup attempt, President Erdoğan left the hotel where he was staying in Marmaris before the team appointed to assassinate him arrived. He came from Dalaman to Istanbul’s Atatürk airport in his TC-ATA airplane. During the landing, the conversation between the pilot and the air traffic controller in the air traffic control tower clearly showed the seriousness of the situation. People recorded Erdoğan’s arrival at Atatürk Airport as thousands of people holding Turkish flags welcomed him.
ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT
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ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT

President Erdoğan made a statement at the Atatürk
Airport.

Video
Erdoğan delivered a press conference at the airport
PLAY 00:10:43

Erdoğan delivered a press conference at the airport

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:10:43
On the night of the coup attempt, President Erdoğan left the hotel where he was staying in Marmaris before the team appointed to assassinate him arrived. He came from Dalaman to Istanbul’s Atatürk airport in his TC-ATA airplane. During the landing, the conversation between the pilot and the air traffic controller in the air traffic control tower clearly showed the seriousness of the situation. People recorded Erdoğan’s arrival at Atatürk Airport as thousands of people holding Turkish flags welcomed him.
EXPLANATION
NOTE:ERDOĞAN SPOKE IN HIS CAPACITY AS ‘COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’
  • "As a result of this mobility, [we have seen that] this minority group within the Turkish Armed Forces who cannot unfortunately digest the unity and solidarity of our country, who cannot accept the unity and solidarity of our nation, was the parallel state structure itself. As a result of a period of 40 years, this structure found a footing in our armed forces and police organization, it disguised in all sorts and reached these days in this way. The movement that is being made now is a betrayal movement.

    It is a move of insurgency. They will pay the price of this treacherous act too seriously.

    Their failure to digest a government, which came to power through popular vote, and Tayyip Erdoğan, who is the commander-in-chief as the Constitution puts it, will not be an end for them. Regardless of what means they resort to, they must know that we have devoted our lives to this blessed cause. We have taken this path with our soul and shroud. Given the idea that there is goodness in all what happens, this move is a great favor of God for us. Because, it will pave the way for purifying our armed forces which must be pure.”

ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT
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ISTANBUL ATATÜRK AIRPORT

Having come to Istanbul from Marmaris, President Erdoğan made his second statement at the Atatürk Airport. Addressing the crowd who gathered at the airport, President Erdoğan declared the putschists to be despicable. He called on people not to leave the streets until things returned to normal, and placed emphasis on unity and solidarity.



Video
Erdoğan’s second statement at the airport
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Erdoğan’s second statement at the airport

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:07:39
President Erdoğan traveled to Atatürk Airport by airplane from Dalaman and delivered a press statement on the night of the coup attempt. President Erdoğan made a second statement at the airport, after the situation across the country slowly started to normalize toward the morning. Erdoğan addressed the public who resisted the putschists and stood guard at the airport until the morning and said that he would not leave the airport until the incidents end and the nation should do the same.
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN’S HOUSE IN KISIKLI
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PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN’S HOUSE IN KISIKLI

PHOTO: People flocked to Kısıklı where President Erdoğan would come.

After the coup attempt, President Erdoğan spent the night at Atatürk Airport State Guest House and then went to his house in Kısıklı. Having seen people with the Turkish flags who had been waiting for him at the entrance of the house, President Erdoğan got out of his car. He shook hands and chatted with citizens who showed intense love to him. People sometimes shouted slogans, saying, "Recep Tayyip Erdoğan" and "Hold your head high, this nation is with you."

Afterwards, President Erdoğan walked into his house with Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, his daughter Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar and son-in-law Selçuk Bayraktar.

FOTO GALERİ: Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan Kısıklı’da

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Wherever Erdoğan is, the people are there!
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Wherever Erdoğan is, the people are there!

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:01:26
President Erdoğan, who was in Marmaris on the night of the coup attempt, having left just before the assassination team that went to kill him arrived, first went to Dalaman and then Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport. Erdoğan went to the state guest house after greeting the people who welcomed him at the airport while chanting slogans. He spent that night at the airport guest house. A crowd welcomed him who in front of his house in Kısıklı in the morning.
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN’S HOUSE IN KISIKLI
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PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN’S HOUSE IN KISIKLI

He called on then U.S. President Barack Obama, saying, “I had told you either to deport this person [Fetullah Gülen] who lives in a land of 400 acres in Pennsylvania, or give him to us. I had told you that he was a traitor, but could not convince you. Now, I am calling once again after this coup attempt. Extradite this person living in Pennsylvania to Turkey. I say, ‘If we are strategic and model partners, please fulfill the demand of your partner.’”

HARITA: Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'ın Rotası

HARİTANIN NOTU: President Erdoğan was in Marmaris with his family during the coup attempt. He moved toward Istanbul under challenging circumstances against the threat posed by putschist soldiers. He left Marmaris and first moved toward Dalaman and then Istanbul by air.

Video
Erdogan addressed the public at Kısıklı
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Erdogan addressed the public at Kısıklı

Editing:Celal Can Vatandaş Yeni Şafak
00:02:12
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, first went from Marmaris to Dalaman at the time of the coup attempt, then from there to Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Erdoğan, who stayed in the guesthouse of the airport until the morning, then went to his residence in Kısıklı, Istanbul. He was welcomed to his house by thousands of people, and he addressed the public there. Erdoğan, indicating that the coup would not reach its target, responded positively to the demand of the people for execution.
Originally from Rize, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born on February 26, 1954, in Istanbul. He graduated from Kasımpaşa Piyale Primary School in 1965 and from Istanbul Imam Hatip High School in 1973. Given his different class exams, he received a diploma from Eyüp High School as well. Erdoğan graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences in 1981.

Starting from his teenage years, choosing a direction of social life and politics, between the years of 1969 and 1982, Erdoğan played amateur football which taught him the importance of disciplinary team work and team spirit at a very young age. Erdoğan actively served in the National Turkish Student Association branches in high school and university, he was elected as MSP Beyoğlu Youth Branch Presidency in 1976 and MSP Istanbul Youth Branch Presidency in the same year. He continued these duties until 1980, worked as a consultant and senior manager in the private sector for a while, during the period when political parties were being closed.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who returned to active politics with the Refah Party founded in 1983, became the Chairman of the Refah Party's Beyoğlu District in 1984, and the Istanbul Provincial Chairman of the Refah Party and the Refah Party's MKYK member in 1985. He developed a new organizational structure which became a model for other political parties during the Istanbul Provincial Presidency; he especially worked to increase the participation of women and youngsters in politics in this period. This structuring was a great achievement for the Refah Party in 1989 in the local elections of Beyoglu, and it was an example for the party work in the whole country.

Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Duty

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was elected Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in the local elections on March 27, 1994, recognized and found solutions to critical problems within Istanbul (one of the most important metropolises of the world) with his political ability, the importance he gave to team work, human resources and financial issues. The water problem was solved by laying new pipelines, hundreds of kilometers long, and the problem of garbage by installing the most modern recycling facilities of the period. While the problem of air pollution ended with the natural gas transition projects developed during the Erdogan period, more than 50 bridges, passages and ring roads were built against the city's traffic and transportation impasse; many projects were developed to shed light on the next periods. Taking extraordinary measures to prevent corruption and for proper use of municipal resources, Erdogan paid a large amount of money to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's debt, which he took over with $2 billion in debt, while investing $4 billion. Thus, Erdogan opened a new era in the history of municipal work in Turkey, and gained great confidence in the people while being an example to other municipalities.

Jail Time and foundation of AK Party

Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sentenced to prison on December 12, 1997 due to a speech given and a poem read to the public, in Siirt from a book, which was recommended by the Ministry of National Education to teachers and published by a government agency and his Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayorship was abolished. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan established the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) with his friends on August 14, 2001 as a result of persistent demands of the public and the developing democratic process after leaving the prison where he stayed for four months and was elected as the Founding President of the AK Party by the Founders' Council. In the 2002 general elections, AK Party became the sole ruling party with nearly two thirds of the parliamentary majority (363 deputies).

Abolition of political ban and Prime Ministry

Erdogan, who could not be a deputy candidate in the elections of November 3, 2002 due to the court verdict, participated in the election of the Siirt province's deputy renewal on March 9, 2003, after the legal obstacle in front of his parliamentary candidacy was abolished with legal regulation. Erdogan, who received 85 percent of the votes in this election, entered parliament as the 22nd-term Siirt deputy.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who assumed the post of Prime Minister on March 15, 2003, implemented a number of reform packages with vital importance in a short period of time with an ideal of a bright and constantly developing Turkey. Inflation, which had been affecting the country's economy and society's psychology in a negative way and which had not been solved for decades, was taken under control and six nulls were redeemed from the Turkish lira which regained its reputation. The borrowing interest rates of the state were lowered, and the national income per capita increased greatly. Dams, housing, schools, roads, hospitals and power plants came into service with an unprecedented speed and number in the history of the country. All these positive developments were termed as the"Silent Revolution" by some foreign observers and Western leaders.

Election victory

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the General President of AK Party, won 46.6% of the votes in the general elections of July 22, 2007, and established the 60th Government of the Republic of Turkey, obtaining a vote of confidence again.

Erdoğan, with a bigger victory in the June 12th, 2011 elections, won 49.8 percent of the votes and established the 61st Government.

Erdogan’s life in photos
19 PHOTOGRAPH
His family originally from Rize, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born on Feb. 26, 1954 in Istanbul.

His family originally from Rize, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born on Feb. 26, 1954 in Istanbul.

One of four siblings, Erdogan’s father is Ahmet Erdoğan and mother is Tenzile Erdoğan.

One of four siblings, Erdogan’s father is Ahmet Erdoğan and mother is Tenzile Erdoğan.

Erdoğan finished primary school in 1965.

Erdoğan finished primary school in 1965.

He entered the only imam-hatip high school, Istanbul imam-hatip high school, in 1966.

He entered the only imam-hatip high school, Istanbul imam-hatip high school, in 1966.

He started to play football at the Erok Sports Club and continued playing at the Camialtı Sports Club in the amateur league.

He started to play football at the Erok Sports Club and continued playing at the Camialtı Sports Club in the amateur league.

He graduated from the imam-hatip high school in 1973. He was not able to enter many universities because he had graduated from an imam-hatip high school. He took up extra classes and received a diploma from Eyüp High School to get around this.

He graduated from the imam-hatip high school in 1973. He was not able to enter many universities because he had graduated from an imam-hatip high school. He took up extra classes and received a diploma from Eyüp High School to get around this.

He was accepted into the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Marmara University. With his admission into university, he had entered a higher league, at the same time he was transferred to the IETT Sports Club.

He was accepted into the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Marmara University. With his admission into university, he had entered a higher league, at the same time he was transferred to the IETT Sports Club.

He was chosen as representative for the youth branch of the National Salvation Party in 1976. The same year, he was chosen as the director of the party’s youth branches.

He was chosen as representative for the youth branch of the National Salvation Party in 1976. The same year, he was chosen as the director of the party’s youth branches.

10	On July 4, 1978, Erdoğan and Emine Gülbaran were married.

10 On July 4, 1978, Erdoğan and Emine Gülbaran were married.

Fulfilling his duties until 1980, Erdoğan worked as a consultant and a senior staff member for companies in the private sector during the Sept. 12 period.

Fulfilling his duties until 1980, Erdoğan worked as a consultant and a senior staff member for companies in the private sector during the Sept. 12 period.

Entering politics with the Welfare Party, founded in 1983, Erdoğan became head of the Beyoğlu district for the Welfare Party in 1984, the party’s Istanbul provincial chairman in 1985 and a member of the Welfare Party Central Decision and Executive Board .

Entering politics with the Welfare Party, founded in 1983, Erdoğan became head of the Beyoğlu district for the Welfare Party in 1984, the party’s Istanbul provincial chairman in 1985 and a member of the Welfare Party Central Decision and Executive Board .

He was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994 with 25.19 percent of the vote.

He was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994 with 25.19 percent of the vote.

16	He was sentenced to four months prison in 1997 after reading Ziya Gökalp’s poem “A Soldier’s Prayer”, written for the Balkan war in 1912, during a speech in Siirt on Dec. 12, 1997.

16 He was sentenced to four months prison in 1997 after reading Ziya Gökalp’s poem “A Soldier’s Prayer”, written for the Balkan war in 1912, during a speech in Siirt on Dec. 12, 1997.

18	He was among the founders of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), founded on Aug. 14, 2001, and was elected party chairman.

18 He was among the founders of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), founded on Aug. 14, 2001, and was elected party chairman.

He entered Parliament as a deputy for Siirt during the by-elections on March 9, 2003, and became prime minister on March 14, 2003.

He entered Parliament as a deputy for Siirt during the by-elections on March 9, 2003, and became prime minister on March 14, 2003.

Erdoğan achieved a great victory as he formed the Republic’s 60th government and won a vote of confidence on July 22, 2007, with 46.6 percent of the vote as AK Party chairman.

Erdoğan achieved a great victory as he formed the Republic’s 60th government and won a vote of confidence on July 22, 2007, with 46.6 percent of the vote as AK Party chairman.

24	In 2007, the way for the people electing a president was cleared, and Erdoğan became president in 2014 with 51.79 percent of the vote.

24 In 2007, the way for the people electing a president was cleared, and Erdoğan became president in 2014 with 51.79 percent of the vote.

Erdoğan achieved a bigger victory by receiving 49.8 percent of the vote and formed the 61st government on June 12, 2011.

Erdoğan achieved a bigger victory by receiving 49.8 percent of the vote and formed the 61st government on June 12, 2011.

28	On Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, he was the first president to be elected by the people and he became the country’s 12th president.

28 On Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, he was the first president to be elected by the people and he became the country’s 12th president.

Erdogan’s life in photos
The 60 year life story of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from Kasımpaşa to Ankara

The first president elected by the public

On Sunday, August 10 2014, for the first time in Turkish political history, the public elected the 12th President directly and in the first round. Erdoğan took an oath on August 28 2014 and began his duty as Turkey's 12th President.

July 15 Process

July 15 coup attempt and call from Erdoğan

On July 15, 2016, a coup attempt was made by a group of soldiers who defined themselves as the 'Yurtta Sulh Konseyi (Council of Domestic Peace)' within the Turkish Armed Forces. President Erdoğan heard about the coup attempt when he was in Marmaris.

President Erdoğan gathered journalists to his hotel and made a press statement. Erdoğan said that the coup attempt was an insurrection directed towards the national will. He stressed that these people will be given with the necessary punishments in the framework of the law. Erdoğan called people to the squares against the coup attempt. Clearing the police team who were in charge of blocking entrances and exits to the TRT Oran Campus, 300 putschist soldiers occupied the TRT building. Putschist soldiers stopped broadcasts of TRT on television and the Internet. As TÜRKSAT stopped broadcasts of TRT after the pirate notice was read on TRT, the press statement could not be broadcast.

President Erdoğan’s first statement regarding the coup
PLAY 00:04:40
President Erdoğan’s first statement regarding the coup
Yeni Şafak
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the press to his hotel and delivered a statement. Noting that the coup attempt was a revolt movement against the national will, Erdoğan called people out to the streets. However, this press statement did not reach the people. It spread on social media hours after the events.

President Erdoğan, whose statement could not be broadcast on TRT, went live on CNN Türk with video talk and expressed that putschists will not be tolerated and given any chance, called people out to the streets to protest against the coup attempt. Right after the call, anti-coup protests started in many different cities in Turkey.

Erdoğan calls his people
PLAY 00:05:48
Erdoğan calls his people
Yeni Şafak
During the night of treason, upon seeing that his statements to journalists were not broadcast, President Erdoğan connected with CNN Türk’s Hande Fırat over Facetime and called on the people to resist the coup attempt. He asserted that the traitors would be punished, and said: “I invite all my people to the squares and airports.”

Assassination squads and airport headquarters

Fifteen minutes before the assassination squad arrived, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his family left Marmaris, where they had been on vacation on the night of July 15, and flew to Istanbul via ATA plane. The plane landed in the Atatürk Airport State Guest House at 03:15. Erdoğan made a statement to the press with his son-in-law and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, AK Party Istanbul deputy Metin Külunk, AK Party Istanbul deputy Halis Dalkılıç, and AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Selim Temurci. In his statement, Erdoğan clarified that an assault was carried out at the hotel after he had left.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources recounted the coup and assassination attempt
PLAY 00:05:15
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources recounted the coup and assassination attempt
Yeni Şafak
A team of putschists headed to Marmaris on the night of the coup attempt to assassinate President Erdoğan, who was staying there on vacation. Berat Albayrak, who was with Erdoğan in Marmaris, recounts in great detail how the president learned of the coup attempt that night, his reacted and his every movement.

“We put our heads into this sacred cause”

Erdoğan continued, “This act going on right now is an act of betrayal. This is an act of revolt. They will pay the price of this betrayal very heavily. Here they cannot stand against a government elected by the free will of the nation, and to the Chief Commander Tayyip Erdoğan; they will not get away with this act. No matter what how try, they should know that we put our heads into this sacred cause. Here we are with our shrouds, with our souls. With the idea that every cloud has a silver lining, this right here is a great favor of God to us. Because it will allow us to cleanse our armed forces which must be immaculate.”

Voyage with death

Responding to questions from the journalists in the joint broadcast of A Haber-ATV on July 30th, Erdoğan talked about the conditions under which they came to Istanbul from Marmaris on the night of the coup, “We did our broadcast and the pilot of the helicopter has been with me for years. I asked him how long it would take for him to get to Dalaman. How about the security? He said, this one is very interesting, ‘I can escape them until fuel runs out,’ and we got in the helicopter as a family, took off, turned down the lights and we actually had preparations at four different spots. There were planes waiting for us at four different spots. Dalaman, Bodrum, Çıldır, İzmir... In the meantime, we were in connection with Istanbul, yet, the pilot didn’t know where we were going to fly to. I told the pilot to take the average way and fly. I have known the pilot for years. Then different information came through. I asked him, ‘how is the heliport?’ ‘The heliport is dimmed,’ he said. To our surprise, the tower was under attack. We contacted the Istanbul Security Director. I asked him, ‘How long would it take you to clear it?’ He said, ‘I will clear it in 10-15 minutes.’ Thankfully they cleared it. The heliport was set and ready for us. We kept on anyway. We were going to land anyway. However, I asked the pilot, ‘Can you land with the lights off?’ ‘I can land with the lights off, but I cannot risk you,’ he said. I asked him ‘why?’ He answered, ‘They might put something there, say a truck, or a tank...’ Our plane can take off in a very short amount of distance. ‘I cannot risk you,’ he said. ‘How much fuel do you have left?’ I asked. He said ‘enough fuel for three to four hours flights.’ He said he could already do it with his lights. We landed, but the planes were flying low when we landed. Of course, when these low flights go faster than the speed of sound, they make explosion sounds. I had my grandchildren with me, they were scared.”

Raid on Erdoğan’s airplane
PLAY 00:02:25
Raid on Erdoğan’s airplane
Yeni Şafak
President Erdoğan called his airplane to Dalaman Airport when hegot the information that the traitors would raid the hotel where he was staying. Putschists raided the airplane thinking that Erdoğan was in it as soon as it landed, but they could not find him in the plane. Erdoğan came to Dalaman after the putchists left the airport. Security cameras caught the moments of the raid on the airplane.

“Helicopter pointed its weapons at us”

Bilal Erdoğan spoke to Yeni Şafak News about what happened during that night in his interview, “Because the roads were so congested, we had to take side roads and were able to get to the airport around 02:30. When we arrived at the airport, our President came and we experienced a few more of the sonic boom sounds caused by low flying F-16s. In the meantime, my wife and children experienced the same thing in Tarabya. As the sun was rising over Atatürk Airport State Guest House, while our President was still there, a helicopter circled us. I slightly opened the window at some point and I saw the helicopter passing by pointing its weapons at us.”

Erdoğan delivered a press conference at the airport
PLAY 00:10:43
Erdoğan delivered a press conference at the airport
Yeni Şafak
On the night of the coup attempt, President Erdoğan left the hotel where he was staying in Marmaris before the team appointed to assassinate him arrived. He came from Dalaman to Istanbul’s Atatürk airport in his TC-ATA airplane. During the landing, the conversation between the pilot and the air traffic controller in the air traffic control tower clearly showed the seriousness of the situation. People recorded Erdoğan’s arrival at Atatürk Airport as thousands of people holding Turkish flags welcomed him.

In the morning of July 16, the coup attempt was quelled and soldiers surrendered with their guns. Having spent the night in the Atatürk Airport State Guest House, Erdoğan left departed for his residence in Kısıklı, in the afternoon.

President Erdoğan on July 15
23 PHOTOGRAPH
President Erdoğan made his first statement to the members of the press including a reporter from THE DHA at Grand Yazıcı Mares Hotel, next to Grand Yazıcı Club Turban, where he was holidaying, at around midnight on July 15, the night of the coup attempt. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak, President Erdoğan’s son-in-law, and Presidential Secretary-General Fahri Kasırga were also with him.

President Erdoğan made his first statement to the members of the press including a reporter from THE DHA at Grand Yazıcı Mares Hotel, next to Grand Yazıcı Club Turban, where he was holidaying, at around midnight on July 15, the night of the coup attempt. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak, President Erdoğan’s son-in-law, and Presidential Secretary-General Fahri Kasırga were also with him.

President Erdoğan arrived to Istanbul Atatürk Airport at 3:15 a.m.

President Erdoğan arrived to Istanbul Atatürk Airport at 3:15 a.m.

He was welcomed by hundreds of people waiting for him at the Atatürk Airport State Guesthouse.

He was welcomed by hundreds of people waiting for him at the Atatürk Airport State Guesthouse.

He was welcomed by hundreds of people waiting for him at Atatürk Airport State Guesthouse.

He was welcomed by hundreds of people waiting for him at Atatürk Airport State Guesthouse.

Arriving at Atatürk Airport from Dalaman, President Erdoğan held a press conference.

Arriving at Atatürk Airport from Dalaman, President Erdoğan held a press conference.

At the meeting where Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak and AK Party deputies were in attendance, Erdoğan said, “This is an act of treason, an uprising, they will pay the price of their betrayal to this country in the harshest possible manner. Let me tell you this in advance.”

At the meeting where Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak and AK Party deputies were in attendance, Erdoğan said, “This is an act of treason, an uprising, they will pay the price of their betrayal to this country in the harshest possible manner. Let me tell you this in advance.”

While President Erdoğan was waiting at Atatürk Airport during the uprising of the coup soldiers, he gave a speech addressing the people.

While President Erdoğan was waiting at Atatürk Airport during the uprising of the coup soldiers, he gave a speech addressing the people.

He left for his residence in Kısıklı, Üsküdar after Atatürk Airport and addressed the people waiting for him with Turkish flags in their hands.

He left for his residence in Kısıklı, Üsküdar after Atatürk Airport and addressed the people waiting for him with Turkish flags in their hands.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the funeral prayer held at Marmara University’s Faculty of Theology for Erol Olçak, 53, the owner of Arter Agency, his son Abdullah Olçak, 16, and Yeni Şafak newspaper’s photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz, who lost their lives on the July 15 Martyrs Bridge – formerly known as Bosporus Bridge – where they had gone to show their reaction to the coup attempt perpetrated by the separatist FETÖ terrorist organization.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the funeral prayer held at Marmara University’s Faculty of Theology for Erol Olçak, 53, the owner of Arter Agency, his son Abdullah Olçak, 16, and Yeni Şafak newspaper’s photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz, who lost their lives on the July 15 Martyrs Bridge – formerly known as Bosporus Bridge – where they had gone to show their reaction to the coup attempt perpetrated by the separatist FETÖ terrorist organization.

President Erdoğan couldn’t hold back his tears during his speech after the funeral prayer.

President Erdoğan couldn’t hold back his tears during his speech after the funeral prayer.

With the video message he published, President Erdoğan addressed the public about the July 15 coup attempt.

With the video message he published, President Erdoğan addressed the public about the July 15 coup attempt.

Arda Turan, who plays for the Barcelona football club, showed his admiration and respect for President Erdoğan with a message he posted on his Instagram account. Praising Erdoğan, Turan said, “I believe you will reunite this country, bring people together. You are my commander-in-chief.”Erdoğan'dan övgüyle bahseden Turan,

Arda Turan, who plays for the Barcelona football club, showed his admiration and respect for President Erdoğan with a message he posted on his Instagram account. Praising Erdoğan, Turan said, “I believe you will reunite this country, bring people together. You are my commander-in-chief.”Erdoğan'dan övgüyle bahseden Turan, "Ben inanıyorum ki bu ülkeyi yeniden birleştirecek, insanları toparlayacaksınız Benim başkomutanım sizsiniz" ifadelerini kullandı.

Following Arda Turan, Burak Yılmaz also declared his support for President Erdoğan, saying: “My dear esteemed, beloved president, WE ARE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY in my beautiful country’s fight for democracy.

Following Arda Turan, Burak Yılmaz also declared his support for President Erdoğan, saying: “My dear esteemed, beloved president, WE ARE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY in my beautiful country’s fight for democracy.

President Erdoğan visited the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which was bombed during the July 15 coup attempt, to examine the damage caused.

President Erdoğan visited the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which was bombed during the July 15 coup attempt, to examine the damage caused.

Erdoğan gave a speech at the damaged assembly hall.

Erdoğan gave a speech at the damaged assembly hall.

President Erdoğan accepted Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, who was taken hostage by the coup soldiers on the night of July 15, at the Presidential Palace.

President Erdoğan accepted Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, who was taken hostage by the coup soldiers on the night of July 15, at the Presidential Palace.

President Erdoğan also visited the Special Operations Department, which was bombed by pro-junta pilots.

President Erdoğan also visited the Special Operations Department, which was bombed by pro-junta pilots.

After the coup attempt, “Democracy and Martyrs” rally was held at Istanbul’s Yenikapı district upon the call of President Erdoğan.

After the coup attempt, “Democracy and Martyrs” rally was held at Istanbul’s Yenikapı district upon the call of President Erdoğan.

President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, former President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar also attended the rally.

President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, former President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar also attended the rally.

President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, former President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar also attended the rally.

President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, former President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar also attended the rally.

President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, former President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar also attended the rally.

President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, former President Abdullah Gül and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar also attended the rally.

President Erdoğan visited the graves of July 15 martyrs Erol Olçak and his son Abdullah Tayip Olçak at Karacaahmet Graveyard with his father Ahmet and mother Tenzile and Ahmet Erdoğan.

President Erdoğan visited the graves of July 15 martyrs Erol Olçak and his son Abdullah Tayip Olçak at Karacaahmet Graveyard with his father Ahmet and mother Tenzile and Ahmet Erdoğan.

President Erdoğan on July 15
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan escaped assassination at the last minute during the foiled coup attempt by members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) within the Turkish Armed Forces on July 15. President Erdoğan tried to connect to TRT on July 15, but as the national Turkish TV channel was raided by coup soldiers, he was unable to do so. Instead, he connected to Hande Fırat’s program on CNN via Facetime and showed his reaction to this military upraising and called on the public to take to the streets.

Erdoğan was expected to go to Ankara, however, on Sunday, July 17th, he made changes in his program and attended the funeral of advertiser Erol Olçak and his son who were martyred on the bridge by putschist soldiers. Erdoğan returned to Ankara on the night of July 17th, and continued his work there.

President Erdoğan was on democracy watch

Erdoğan spoke to the citizens, on the platform set on the ground, within the framework of democracy watches in front of his residence in Kısıklı, Istanbul in the evening of July 17th. He said, “This country suffered too much from this parallel state structure. There is praying at the bottom, business in the middle and betrayal on top of it. They sucked the blood of this nation out of its palms. Then they complained and reported this country to America and Europe, they besmirched this country’s reputation with false news and lies, all over the world. Now I am calling out to America, I am calling out to America, to Mr. President, I am saying, Dear President, I told you in person that, either deport or hand in that person who lives in Pennsylvania inside a 400 km2 land, and I told you that these people had been planning a coup, however, you would not listen to me. Now I am calling out today once again after this coup attempt, I am saying, ‘Hand in that person living in Pennsylvania to Turkey already.’ If we are strategical partners, if we are model partners, then please fulfill your partner’s demand. Likewise, we handed in any terrorist you demanded from us. Now, hand in that person who is on our terror list.”

Erdogan addressed the public at Kısıklı
PLAY 00:02:12
Erdogan addressed the public at Kısıklı
Yeni Şafak
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, first went from Marmaris to Dalaman at the time of the coup attempt, then from there to Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Erdoğan, who stayed in the guesthouse of the airport until the morning, then went to his residence in Kısıklı, Istanbul. He was welcomed to his house by thousands of people, and he addressed the public there. Erdoğan, indicating that the coup would not reach its target, responded positively to the demand of the people for execution.

Democracy watches that started with the FETÖ coup attempt and continued ceaselessly and decisively, were stopped after 27 days. President Erdoğan met with citizens in the garden of the Presidential Palace on the evening of August 10th.

Speaking from the platform, set in front of the Şeref Gate (Şeref Kapısı) to numerous citizens of all ages gathered at the Palace, President Erdoğan noted that the USA must make a choice sooner or later, “Either FETÖ or Turkey. PKK on one side, FETÖ on the other, PYD in one hand, ISIS in the other, and YPG, come all of you! With god’s will you shall not defeat this nation !”