Tens of thousands of supporters filled a sports hall in Ankara on Sunday as Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) held its eighth Ordinary Grand Congress, a vibrant showcase of the party’s enduring influence and a platform for its next chapter.

The event, a pivotal moment for Türkiye’s ruling party, underscored its enduring dominance in the nation’s political landscape while introducing fresh faces and ambitious strategies to propel it into the future.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, unanimously re-elected as party chairman, emerged as the central figure, delivering a rousing vision of a stronger, terror-free, and economically thriving Türkiye.

The sheer volume of attendees spilling into the venue forced Erdoğan to address the overflow crowd with a separate speech outside the hall before stepping inside to lead the proceedings. Under the congress’s theme, “Named White, Illuminating the Future”—a nod to the party’s acronym “AK,” meaning “white”—the atmosphere buzzed with fervor. “Names are temporary, but the cause lives forever,” Erdoğan proclaimed in his second address of the day, a sentiment that resonated deeply with the party faithful who had traveled from every corner of Türkiye to witness this milestone.

Inside the hall, hundreds of delegates cast their votes to reshape the AK Party’s leadership, electing members to its influential central decision and executive board (MKYK) and central executive board (MYK). The candidate list for the MKYK boasted 75 diverse names, blending seasoned party veterans with notable newcomers. Among them were celebrated economist Abdülkadir Develi, former Arsenal football star Mesut Özil, and Kürşad Zorlu, a lawmaker who recently defected from the opposition Good Party (IP). Long-serving figures like Erkan Kandemir, a key congress organizer and AK Party deputy chair, and Eyyup Kadir Inan, former head of the party’s youth wing, also featured prominently. Of the candidates, 39 were fresh faces, including seven lawmakers who switched allegiance from opposition parties over the past year, and 29 were current AK Party parliamentarians.

The congress wasn’t just about personnel changes—it signaled structural evolution too. The AK Party unveiled three new MYK boards dedicated to relations with Turkic states, health policies, and culture and arts, raising the number of deputy chairs from 16 to 19. This expansion reflects Erdoğan’s commitment to broadening the party’s scope as it navigates both domestic challenges and its regional ambitions.

Erdoğan framed the event as the culmination of a renewal process sparked after last year’s municipal election setbacks, which saw the party lose key strongholds. Provincial congresses launched last autumn paved the way, with nearly three-quarters of provincial chairpersons and two-thirds of district leaders replaced to inject new energy into the ranks. “The AK Party has continuously succeeded in renewing, changing, developing, and elevating itself,” Erdoğan told the crowd, pointing to its 24-year legacy since its founding in 2001. He boasted that the party ranks among the top five globally in membership, a testament to its grassroots strength.

The congress also served as a stage to welcome high-profile defectors from rival parties, amplifying the AK Party’s momentum. Former football coach Ünal Karaman, veteran politician Mehmet Salim Ensarioğlu, and Serap Yazıcı Özbudun—who resigned from the Future Party just a day prior—were officially inducted, posing alongside Erdoğan in a symbolic show of unity. The event drew an international audience as well, with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar seated beside Erdoğan. While the AK Party’s ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), sent a delegation—and its leader Devlet Bahçeli, sidelined by surgery, gifted a massive bouquet of 1,071 roses, 1,453 clovers, and 23 orchids symbolizing historic Turkish victories and the party’s 23 years in power—the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) opted for a low-key presence, dispatching only two deputy chairs.

In a sweeping speech, Erdoğan celebrated the AK Party’s transformative impact over its 22 years in government. “We achieved an extraordinary success that entered global political literature,” he declared, attributing it to the party’s ability to channel the “hopes, expectations, and dreams” of the Turkish people rather than relying on wealth or backroom deals. Since taking power in 2002, ending an era of unstable coalition governments, the AK Party has steered Türkiye from crisis to prominence, Erdoğan said. “We made the strength of our cause the strength of our country, and with that, built a Türkiye that leads its region and the world.”

Economically, he painted a picture of remarkable progress, claiming national income has surged six-fold under AK Party rule, elevating Türkiye into the trillion-dollar economy club. “Our share of the global economy grew from 0.7% to 1.1%, and per capita income soared from $3,600 to $13,243 in 2023, with projections to exceed $15,000 soon,” he said. Industry value jumped from $95 billion to $320 billion, while the Central Bank’s reserves hit a historic $173 billion—up from just $27.5 billion when the party took office. Unemployment has dipped to 8.5%, and last year alone, over 1.1 million jobs were created, he added, citing a nearly two-year-old economic program now bearing fruit.

On security, Erdoğan vowed to eradicate terrorism, heralding a “terror-free Türkiye” as a near-term goal. “As Turks, Kurds, and Arabs, we will shatter the wall of terror that has risen on the blood of our children for 40 years,” he pledged, linking this victory to broader democratic and economic gains. He also reaffirmed the fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), weakened since its leader’s death in Pennsylvania, promising to pursue it relentlessly at home and abroad.

Erdoğan didn’t shy away from lambasting the opposition, accusing them of fostering a “toxic democracy” through shadowy alliances with terrorist groups and undemocratic forces. He criticized their behind-closed-doors deal-making in recent elections, arguing it has eroded trust in politics. “The antidote to this poison is the AK Party and our People’s Alliance,” he asserted, positioning his party as the guardian of national will.

Reflecting on the past, Erdoğan recalled how political instability once fueled economic crises, weakening Türkiye’s global standing. “Through resolute steps, reform efforts, and struggles against internal and external foes, we restored Türkiye’s political and economic independence,” he said. Today, he boasted, Türkiye ranks as the world’s top UAV producer and 11th in defense exports, with automobile ownership skyrocketing from 4.5 million in 2002 to 16.5 million.

The president rallied his base—particularly the women’s and youth wings—to intensify their efforts. “Our women’s branch has reached every household, and our youth are the guarantee of our future,” he said, urging them to amplify the party’s dynamism. Despite municipal losses in 2019 and 2024, Erdoğan remained defiant: “Those who expect us to falter have been waiting since 2001. They will wait longer.”

The congress closed with Erdoğan’s promise to keep Türkiye rooted in its values while soaring toward new heights. “We created our own bed of roses, step by step,” he said, vowing to stay shoulder-to-shoulder with the people. “We have been in power because we won hearts one by one.”

As Türkiye navigates its evolving political landscape, the 8th Grand Congress reaffirmed the AK Party's dominance while setting the stage for its next chapter in governance. (ILKHA)