In an exclusive interview with CNN, Erdogan said that a constitutional reform package backed by a narrow majority of Turkey"s voters in a referendum on Sunday was not about him.
"I am a mortal really, I could die at any time," he told Becky Anderson inside Ankara"s presidential palace Tuesday, in his first interview since the vote.
Erdogan rejected accusations that he supported the new powers out of a desire to empower himself rather than improve Turkey"s political system.
"The system represents a change, a transformation in the democratic history of Turkey," he said.
Under the revised constitution, Erdogan will be able to abolish the post of Prime Minister and assume broad new powers to rule by decree. The new arrangements give him the power to appoint a cabinet and some senior judges. The power of Parliament to scrutinize legislation is curbed.
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