AKP's 8th Ordinary Grand Congress to be held today: Over 100,000 attendees expected

The AKP, which fell to the position of the second-largest party in Turkey for the first time since its founding after suffering a defeat in the March 31 Local Elections, will hold its highly anticipated 8th Ordinary Grand Congress today.

AKP Deputy Chairmen Erkan Kandemir and Hamza Dağ, along with Secretary-General Fatih Şahin, made statements to the press at the Ankara Sports Hall regarding preparations for the congress.

Stating that they will reach the final stage of the marathon they began today, Kandemir said that party members from all four corners of Turkey will come together at the 8th Ordinary Grand Congress in Ankara.

Kandemir claimed that the congress would be completed through a process that sets an example not only for the AKP and Turkish politics but also for world democracy.

Reminding that the AKP's 8th Ordinary Grand Congress process began in towns and districts on October 7 and continued in provinces, Kandemir stated that AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally attended 29 congresses.

"THE FIRST GRAND CONGRESS OF TURKEY'S SECOND CENTURY"

AKP Deputy Chairman Kandemir stated that they expect an attendance of over 100,000 at the congress, saying, "Our buses have currently departed from Hakkari, Ardahan, and Van, and our friends are on their way. They have set off toward our congress hall to share in this excitement. Hopefully, with the arrival of our Chairman tomorrow, we will open the door to a new era with this magnificent congress. This congress is very important to us for this reason; it is the first grand congress of the Century of Turkey, of Turkey's second century. With the messages our Chairman will deliver and the enthusiasm of our friends in the hall, Turkey will have opened the door to a new era."

Conveying that Erdoğan's speech at the congress will take place under 3 main headings, Kandemir used the expression, "As the AK Party, we will conduct an accounting of the last 23 years. We will have a section where we deliver messages in line with the expectations of our nation and different segments of society. Of course, most importantly, we will hopefully meet with a speech that serves as a manifesto, where Turkey will convey messages regarding world politics, where it reads this century, and where it will carry Turkey."

Kandemir explained that international participation in the congress is very intense, and that there will be attendance from all over the world, both at the ambassadorial level and in terms of political party representatives.

Pointing out that the congress will open the door to a new era not only for Turkey and the geography it is located in, but also for world politics, Kandemir said, "With excitement and a global vision, exactly as required by this global claim that our party has carried our country to, we will hopefully see the first steps, the first light, and the first seeds of the Turkey of the new century all together in this hall."

Noting that the AK Party is a political party open to surprises, Kandemir stated that in his 1.5-hour speech at the congress, Erdoğan will express the messages of AK Party congresses that encompass the whole world through the messages he will give to both domestic and foreign audiences.

"17 HEADINGS IN THE CENTURY OF TURKEY WILL BE PRESENTED"

AKP Deputy Chairman Hamza Dağ also made evaluations regarding the congress and the preparations.

Touching upon the campaign process regarding the congress, Dağ said that this process has been ongoing for some time, and has been carried out with the concept of "The Name of Hope, Action, and the Future is AK Party", especially since August 14, the anniversary of the AKP's founding.

Reminding that they held congresses in 81 provinces and 972 districts for youth branches, women's branches, and the main organization with the same "The Name of Hope, Action, and the Future is AK Party" concept, Dağ noted the following:

"Tomorrow, as both a continuation of this concept and because it is the first congress of the Century of Turkey, we have determined a main theme that will reveal the AK Party's claim in the Century of Turkey by combining both our previous concept and our 17 headings in the 'Century of Turkey'—which include 'future, stability, power, compassion, efficiency'—and by multiplying them into themes like 'AK in its Name, Future in its Light', 'AK in its Name, Stability in its Light', and 'AK in its Name, Peace in its Light'. Hopefully, we will execute this tomorrow and continue our campaign in this way from now on."

Stating that 3 new pieces of music regarding the AKP will be shared with the public at today's congress, Dağ expressed that they will also bring party members together with effective stage performances and promotional films.

Pointing out that the main striking issue today will be Erdoğan's speech, Dağ said, "Our excitement is very high. Our fellow travelers from every part of Turkey have started to set off, and they are all coming to this hall with excitement. We have held many organizations in this hall. We left all of them with great excitement and enthusiasm. Hopefully, tomorrow in this hall, we will give a very beautiful message, excitement, and enthusiasm to every part of Turkey."

Stating that a surprise also awaits the audience in the stage performance to take place in the hall, Dağ said that in addition to the performance, a 4-minute and 40-second film showing the work of AKP organizations to date will be broadcast.

"WE WILL HAVE A GUEST PROFILE THAT REFLECTS TURKEY'S DIVERSITY"

AKP Secretary-General Fatih Şahin stated that party founders, former deputies, former ministers, and individuals who served in the party in previous periods will also attend the congress.

Stating that they will hold a congress today where the AKP will fully reflect its institutional and political capacity, Şahin reminded that invitations were also sent to political parties by the party's Civil Society and Public Relations Department.

Stating that representatives of political parties that gave positive feedback to the invitations will also be at today's congress, Şahin concluded his words as follows:

"Besides this, many of our non-governmental organizations, professional unions, and professional chambers will be with us tomorrow. In this sense, we can say that we have a guest profile that reflects all of Turkey's richness and diversity. Our friends have already touched upon the issue regarding our foreign guests. We will see all of Turkey's riches together here at our congress tomorrow."