Erdoğan to announce new vision for Turkey in AK Party congress
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks to journalists in Kerem Aydınlar Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey, March 19, 2021. (Anadolu Agency)


President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will announce a new vision for Turkey in the upcoming ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) seventh ordinary congress in the capital Ankara under the slogans "Strong Turkey, global justice" and "Human dignity and welfare state."

Erdoğan, during the congress to be held on March 24, will share steps on human rights, a more effective judicial system, political issues as well as economic steps including the further support for investors.

He is also expected to announce the Human Rights Politics Document prepared by his party.

Launched in late 2019 and interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial congresses were completed recently.

Erdoğan recently expressed his confidence in winning the elections in 2023, saying that it will be a year of victory for the People’s Alliance. The ruling AK Party forged an alliance with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in the 2018 parliamentary and presidential elections. The alliance got a majority in Parliament, while their presidential candidate, Erdoğan, also won the election with 52.6% of the votes. The AK Party has consistently denied rumors of early elections, despite the speculation of opposition parties. Turkey is expected to hold presidential elections in June 2023.

The AK Party was founded in 2001 under the leadership of Erdoğan and quickly gained momentum, emerging as the leading body in the Nov. 3, 2002, general elections, receiving 34.28% of the votes. Since then, the AK Party has participated in six general elections – in 2002, 2007, 2011 and June 2015, plus in the November snap elections in 2015 and 2018 – and won them all. As a result, over the last 19 years, two presidents and four prime ministers have been selected from the AK Party.