PodcastErdoğan keeps Turkey's 100th anniversary of republic celebrations low-key
As Turkey marked the centenary of the foundation of the republic, President Erdoğan and high level political and military figures attended the official ceremony at Atatürk’s mausoleum. Erdoğan will not host the traditional Republic Day reception due to ongoing siege in Gaza.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, state and military officials along with leader of political parties on Oct. 29 gathered in Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s mausoleum, known as Anıtkabir, to celebrate the centenary of the Republic of Turkey.
Photographs: Reuters & Gazete Duvar
On Oct. 29, 1923, Ataturk officially declared the name of the nation and proclaimed the country's status as a republic.
A vote then took place in Turkey's parliament and Atatürk was unanimously elected the first president of the Republic of Turkey. Since then, Turkey has celebrated Republic Day every year on Oct. 29 and state officials visited the mausoleum in the country's capital to mark the beginning of the celebrations.
President Erdoğan followed the customary protocol by laying a wreath at Ataturk's mausoleum in the capital.
"We have tried to protect your legacy properly during our 21-year period of administration, every moment of which was spent serving our country and nation," he wrote in the Anıtkabir guestbook.
"As an administration that has brought Turkey together with the historic moves of investment, we are determined to crown the second century of our Republic with the Century of Turkey," he added.
President Erdoğan ended his message, “Our republic is safer than ever before and in safe and competent hands."
Erdoğan had plans to meet foreign ambassadors and high-ranking officials at his palace later. Nonetheless, he did not organize the traditional Republic Day reception. State broadcaster TRT announced the government cancelled special centennial programs due to the war in Gaza.
On the other hand, Erdoğan was set to travel to Istanbul to witness a parade of military vessels on the Bosporus, followed by a display of drones and fireworks.
The government chose to avoid using traditional republican symbols and instead emphasized technological advancements and a strong military, aligning with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) propaganda.