Sawt Falasteen - Erdogan says March local elections will be his 'last'

It was the first time that Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003, has spoken about leaving office.

"I am working non-stop. We're running around breathlessly because for me, it's a final," said the president at a meeting of the TUGVA young Turks foundation.

"With the authority that the law confers on me, this election is my last election."

The 70-year-old leader expressed confidence that his conservative Justice and Development (AKP) party would nonetheless remain in power even after he has left office.

He said that the results of the March 31 local elections would be "a blessing for the brothers who come after me. There will be a transfer of confidence".

The AKP is hoping to regain the mayorship of Istanbul in the elections later this month, having seen it taken by the opposition in 2019.

Erdogan was himself mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998.

He was then elected prime minister in 2003 when the premier was the dominant figure in Turkish politics.

That changed when Erdogan was elected president in 2014, following three terms as prime minister.

A constitutional change in 2017 then turned Turkey from a parliamentary system into an executive presidency, abolishing the position of prime minister and ensuring that Erdogan's grip on power remained unchanged.

Further election successes in 2018 and last year have meant that Erdogan's often controversial rule has extended into a third decade.

U.AlSharif--SF-PST