Deputy PM: AK Party never lost its reformist vision

With only two weeks left until the Nov. 1 elections, economic promises dominate the electoral discussions. Unlike the previous election, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) seems to be following opposition parties, the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), in increasing the amount of economic promises in its new election manifesto. These changes also raised concerns about whether the AK Party is becoming populist and has abandoned the fiscal discipline that is considered a vital element of the AK Party's economic success in the last 13 years. However, deputy prime minister and AK Party deputy, Yalçın Akdoğan, refuted these claims and underlined that they will never take a populist approach. "It is irresponsible to make unrealistic promises that could cause economic instability. Our promises are realistic and they can be implemented. Because the people know our previous deeds, they trust us in realizing our promises. Therefore, it cannot be regarded as populism," Akdoğan told Daily Sabah.

Responding to CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's remarks that the economic promises in the AK Party manifesto were inspired by the CHP's promises, Akdoğan said that the AK Party is the party being imitated by other parties and added that unrealistic populist promises cannot be compared with the AK Party's carefully calculated promises. "Due to the needs and conditions of today, the AK Party has included the said economic promises. If the conditions and needs change over time, we will adapt to it and do our best to satisfy them," he said.

Regarding the criticism the AK Party has recently received for losing its reformist identity, Akdoğan stressed that the party has never lost its reformist vision and that their 2023 vision, along with a reform chapter within the party's election manifesto, are proof of their determination to continue reforming. "The AK Party has realized many reforms in many fields; however, a new constitution is needed for further reforms. The AK Party is the only party to include reforms, such as in the political parties law and election system within its manifesto. Therefore, I do not believe that the AK Party has lost its reformist identity," he added further.