Reflecting on 25 Years of the AK Party: Turkiye's Journey of Political Transformation

Turkish President and the leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends his party's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, Turkiye on October 25, 2023.

The initial step taken on August 14, 2001 marked the beginning of a profound political journey on the modern world stage. Leaving a quarter of a century behind, the AK Party has established an enduring presence in national development and global democracy. Coming to power 16 months after its founding, the movement has maintained uninterrupted stability through a unique capacity for political translation—transforming societal needs into effective public policies.

To understand this transformation, one must look back at the Turkiye of the 1990s, an era characterized by fragile coalitions, economic crises, and political instability. The closures of the Refah Party in 1998 and the Fazilet Party in 2001 created a crisis of representation, making the year 2001 a vital historical threshold. Inheriting this complex landscape, the AK Party dismantled the old mentality of state command and replaced it with the principle of state service to the nation.

Over the past twenty-five years, the party has overseen institutional revolutions, including the Health Transformation Program and advancements in the defence industry with national fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Through initiatives like TEKNOFEST, Turkiye has fostered technological self-confidence while pursuing a "Terror-Free Turkiye" model. In foreign policy, the nation has championed the Palestinian cause and elevated its global standing through the leadership of President and Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Looking ahead, the AK Party aims to build upon its rich state experience and the "Century of Turkiye" vision, prioritizing justice, compassion, and sustainable global peace under the ongoing leadership of President and Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan.