AKP's 8th Ordinary Grand Congress: Preparations in the final stage! All eyes on party changes

AKP Deputy Chairman Erkan Kandemir announced that preparations for the 8th Ordinary Grand Congress of the AKP are largely complete.

WHO WILL BE AT THE CONGRESS?

Stating that the congress calendar, which began on October 12, 2024, has proceeded smoothly with 3,162 congresses, Kandemir said, "65 percent of district chairs and 75 percent of provincial chairs have changed. Invitations were sent to 9 political parties (CHP, BBP, DSP, HÜDAPAR, IYI Party, MHP, Vatan Party, New Welfare Party, Felicity Party). Additionally, 95 ambassadors and 28 political party representatives from 13 countries will attend."

WHICH NAMES WILL CHANGE IN THE AKP?

All eyes have turned to the changes to be made in the Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) and the deputy chairmanships.

As in every congress, a significant renewal is expected in the party administration this time as well.

NEW SONGS WILL PLAY

Stating that new techniques will be used in the hall where the grand congress will be held, Kandemir said, "New songs will be played. Choreography will be organized in the stands. This will be the first grand congress of this century."

Kandemir added, "(Regarding CHP's early election rhetoric) We are having difficulty understanding what the CHP is doing. They are speaking according to their own internal balances, not according to the nation. We want to use the upcoming period without elections to the fullest. Since the nation does not have an election agenda, the People's Alliance does not have such an agenda either."

COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN FOR THE ORDINARY GRAND CONGRESS

The AKP, which came to power in the first general election it entered on November 3, 2002, 15 months after its founding, and has governed the country for 23 years, will hold its 8th Ordinary Grand Congress on February 23.

Founded on August 14, 2001, under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the AKP came to power alone in the November 3, 2002 elections by receiving 34.28 percent of the valid votes. The first AKP government, formed under the prime ministry of Abdullah Gül due to Erdoğan's political ban, became the 58th Government of Turkey.

Erdoğan, who could not enter the November 3 elections due to his political ban, was elected as a member of parliament in the renewal elections held in Siirt on March 8, 2003. Following the resignation of the 58th Government led by Gül on March 11, 2003, Erdoğan formed the 59th Government of the Republic of Turkey on March 14, 2003.

The ruling party, the AKP, took its first local election test on March 28, 2004. According to the Provincial General Assembly election results, it came in first with 41.7 percent of the vote.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST CONGRESS HELD?

The AKP held its 1st Ordinary Grand Congress on October 12, 2003, approximately 7 months after the formation of the 59th Government, and Erdoğan was elected chairman after receiving all valid votes. The 2nd Ordinary Grand Congress of the AKP, which was the ruling party, was held on November 11, 2006. In this congress, Erdoğan was re-elected chairman by receiving all valid votes.

In the elections held on July 22, 2007, to determine the 23rd Term members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the AKP came to power alone again, and the party's third and Turkey's 60th Government was formed under the leadership of Erdoğan.

The AKP held its 3rd Ordinary Grand Congress on October 3, 2009. Erdoğan was elected chairman once again at this congress.

In the June 12, 2011 general elections, the AKP received 49.83 percent of the vote and came to power alone for the fourth time, while Turkey's 61st Government was formed under Erdoğan's prime ministry.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS HELD?

The AKP held its 4th Ordinary Grand Congress on September 30, 2012. Erdoğan, who entered all four congresses as prime minister, was re-elected chairman.

After Erdoğan became the first President to be elected directly by the will of the people in the Presidential election held on August 10, 2014, Ahmet Davutoğlu was elected chairman at the 1st Extraordinary Grand Congress held on August 27, 2014, and subsequently formed the 62nd Government.

Although the AKP received 40.87 percent of the vote in the general elections on June 7, 2015, it could not come to power alone. Following the 5th Ordinary Grand Congress held on September 12, 2015, where Davutoğlu was re-elected chairman, the AKP won power alone in the early elections on November 1, 2015, and the 64th Government was formed after the election.

Another change of guard took place in the party with the 2nd Extraordinary Congress held on May 22, 2016. Binali Yıldırım, one of the founders of the party and a companion of Erdoğan since his mayoral days, was elected AKP Chairman and became Prime Minister by forming the 65th Government.

HISTORIC VOTE

Turkey entered a new era with the public vote held on April 16, which was described as "historic". With 51.41 percent "yes" and 48.59 percent "no" votes coming out of the public vote on April 16, 2017, the provision in the Constitution stating that "the person elected President shall have their ties with their party severed" was abolished, and the path to party membership was opened for President Erdoğan. In addition, the public decided to transition to the Presidential Government System.

President Erdoğan came to the AKP Headquarters on May 2, 2017, after a 979-day hiatus, signed his membership declaration, and became a member of the AKP.

CHAIRMAN AGAIN

Following the return of President and AKP Chairman Erdoğan to the party, a decision was made to hold an extraordinary congress on May 21, 2017. Erdoğan, who received all 1,414 valid votes at the AKP's 3rd Extraordinary Grand Congress, was re-elected Chairman of the party he founded.

The 6th Ordinary Grand Congress of the AKP was held on August 18, 2018. Erdoğan received all 1,380 valid votes at the 6th Ordinary Grand Congress.

The 7th Ordinary Grand Congress process in the AKP began in December 2019 with the slogan "Walk on the path you believe in". The plans of the AKP, which aimed to complete provincial and district congresses in 2020 and start the grand congress process, were negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which began to be effective all over the world in January 2020 and in Turkey in March.

The congresses were postponed for a while, taking into account the decisions of the Scientific Committee and the course of the number of cases. After the number of cases decreased, the congresses were restarted in August by complying with mask and social distancing rules.

President and AKP Chairman Erdoğan attended 12 provincial congresses in person and the other provincial congresses via live connection. After the completion of the provincial congresses in the AKP, the 7th Ordinary Grand Congress was held on March 24, 2021.

President and AKP Chairman Erdoğan was re-elected AKP Chairman for the 7th time, receiving all 1,428 valid votes.

The AKP, which emerged as the first party from the ballot box in the Presidential and 28th Term Parliamentary General Elections held on May 14, 2023, held its 4th Extraordinary Grand Congress on October 7, 2023.

At the congress, President Erdoğan was re-elected chairman. At the Extraordinary Grand Congress, 49 of the current Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) members did not take part in the new MKYK, while 26 names retained their seats. 18 women and 57 men entered the MKYK lists.

MAIN SLOGAN OF THE GRAND CONGRESS HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

In the process of the 8th Ordinary Grand Congress that the AKP will hold on Sunday, February 23, district congresses began on October 12 and provincial congresses on November 30.

In the AKP, which completed the congress process in 81 provinces with the Istanbul 8th Ordinary Provincial Congress held on February 7, preparations continue for the 8th Ordinary Grand Congress to be held at the Ankara Sports Hall on February 23.

1,607 delegates are expected to cast their votes at the congress, whose main slogan has been decided as "AK in its name, Future in its light". It is also planned to introduce the AKP's new song and screen a short film at the congress.