Businessmen ask for peace and stability from Turkey’s new president

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) head Haluk Dinçer. CİHAN Photo

The business world has urged Turkey’s new president to end the deepened polarization and escalated institutional disharmony present in the country, according to a statement by the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD) on Aug. 11.

“Our [the business world’s] first expectation from the new president is the removal of the current polarized and segregated [environment], which has reached a level that could threaten democracy and development [in the country],” read the TÜSİAD statement, which greeted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his victory in the Aug. 10 presidential elections.

“We hope our new president will restore the lowered harmony between public institutions by using his constitutional authorities and responsibilities, as well as play a guiding and conciliatory role in starting dialogue between political parties,” the statement read.

The association also highlighted “the need to introduce a maximum number of structural reforms” ahead of general elections, scheduled for mid-2015, and the crucial role the president will play in this bid.

The top representative of Turkish exporters, Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM) chair Mehmet Büyükekşi also released a statement to congratulate Erdoğan for his election victory.

“We believe our prime minister’s role in leading Turkey to become a strong global economic actor and a developed international trading state will continue during his time as president,” said Büyükekşi in his statement. He also expressed his faith in Erdoğan to continue pursuing after Turkey's goal to become 10th largest economy of the world by 2023.

Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) Chairman Nail Olpak  greeted the president-elect as well, dubbing the election results as an indication of the people’s support for the “continuation of a peaceful, trustworthy and stable environment.”

“We hope Erdoğan will spread this trust to the masses and create an environment of brotherhood, continuing to facilitate our country in reaching its goals,” Olpak’s statement read.