Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received a group of children at the Vahdettin Mansion in Istanbul where they followed an annual tradition of taking the seats of Cabinet ministers. 

During the event that was held to celebrate National Sovereignty and Children's Day and also the 102nd anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish parliament, Erdogan symbolically gave his seat as head of state to Sukru Emre Eren.

After celebrating, Erdogan gave the floor to Eren.

Later, the eighth-grader gave a speech and introduced his Cabinet.

The day started with top government officials and politicians attending a morning ceremony in the nation’s capital of Ankara at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. Those in attendance included Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop, National Education Minister Mahmut Ozer and other dignitaries.

The special day in Turkiye is marked by a festival for children and public offices, schools, and the private sector also hold programs.

The April 23 celebrations focus on children after Ataturk, the first parliament speaker. dedicated the day to children as the nation's future.

The Grand National Assembly met for the first time in Ankara in 1920 during the War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent, secular and modern republic./aa