The program held at the AK Party Headquarters; AK Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala and Mustafa Elitaş, AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, AK Party Organization Chairman Ahmet Büyükgümüş, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Culture and Art Policies Hüseyin Yayman and Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek attended. The program started with the opening speech of AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Culture and Art Policies Hüseyin Yayman. Then, a video was screened describing the 25-year political journey of the AK Party from its establishment to the present, the reforms implemented during the period of power and the transformation of Türkiye. The panel discussed the political struggles of the AK Party since its establishment, the reforms carried out in the field of democracy and development, Türkiye's international position, economic development and its goals for the second 25 years.
YAYMAN: "AK PARTY IS COMPETING WITH ITSELF"
AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Culture and Art Policies Hüseyin Yayman, who moderated the program, stated in his opening speech that the AK Party is the party of the nation and reminded that the elections of November 3, 2002 were described as the "Anatolian revolution" in Turkish political history. Stating that the state-administration and politics-human relations in Türkiye have changed radically under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Yayman said that the political paradigm in Türkiye was reshaped with the AK Party coming to power.
Yayman said, "Nothing has been the same in Türkiye since November 3, 2002. Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the state-administration relationship in Türkiye has changed. The politics-human relationship has changed in Türkiye. The paradigm of politics has changed and our Turkey, which was described as the sick man of the Bosphorus, has become one of the global powers of the world today." he said. Emphasizing that the AK Party wrote a great success story in the first 25 years and that it has the responsibility of writing a new success story in the second 25 years, Yayman evaluated the political crises and interventions that the party has faced since its establishment.
"AK PARTY FACED A CRISIS EVERY TWO YEARS IN ITS 24 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT"
Reminding that our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was banned from politics when the AK Party was founded on August 14, 2001, Yayman stated that the party had an important struggle for democracy at its establishment stage. Yayman stated that the political obstacles that occurred after coming to power were overcome with the support of the nation; He noted that the Council of State attack, republic rallies, e-memorandum, 367 crisis, closure case, MİT crisis, Gezi Park events, 17-25 December period, Covid-19 epidemic and 15 July treacherous coup attempt are important turning points in the political history of the AK Party.
Stating that Türkiye left all these processes behind under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, by protecting the will of the nation and democracy, Yayman said: "The AK Party faced a crisis every two years of its 24-year rule, and we overcame all these with our nation, democracy and our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We are the AK Party. We are on the right side of history. We are a 'white' party, as our name suggests."
"AK PARTY'S COMPETITION IS AK PARTY"
Stating that the AK Party will continue on its path with great goals in the new period, Yayman emphasized that the successes achieved in the first 25 years should be carried forward in the second 25 years. Yayman said, "Our party, which has overcome great crises and difficulties, will continue on its way with the promise of a new red apple, a new dream, a new utopia for the new era. The rival of the AK Party is the AK Party. The AK Party is competing with itself." he said.
ALA: "THE NATION BECAME A STATE WITH THE AK PARTY"
AK Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala stated in his speech that the AK Party has changed the management approach in Türkiye and said that the most important resource a country has is a well-functioning administration. Pointing out Türkiye's goal of being among the 10 most developed countries in the world, Ala emphasized that one of the common characteristics of these countries is that they have a strong and effective management structure. Reminding our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's words "The nation founded the AK Party, we hung its sign", Ala stated that the AK Party was founded in a period when the trust between the society and the state was damaged, economic crises were experienced and politics had difficulty in producing solutions. He stated that the political and social situation that emerged after the February 28 postmodern coup is important in understanding the founding process of the AK Party.
"AK PARTY ACHIEVED POLITICAL STABILITY IN Türkiye IN 24 YEARS"
Reminding that the average term of office of governments before the AK Party came to power was 1 year and 7 months, Ala noted that the party had left 24 years behind and ensured political stability in Türkiye. Ala said, "AK Party has changed such a system that look, we are in the 24th year, we have entered the 25th year." he said. Explaining the mentality change in state institutions through an anecdote he experienced during his term as Governor of Batman, Ala stated that in a meeting, when a military officer asked a question about teachers wearing headscarves attending classes in schools, he stated that the authorities and responsibilities in the state administration were certain. Emphasizing that the strong political will of the AK Party governments and our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was behind this attitude he put forward at that time, Ala said, "If the AK Party governments in Ankara and its leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had not stood behind us when I said that, you would only have one decree to live." he said. Stating that the February 28 regulations were thrown into the dustbin of history in 2010 with the signature of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ala said that today, both the institutions and the nation are doing their own job and Türkiye is continuing on its path by developing.
"THE WILL OF THE NATION HAS DOMINATED THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE"
Pointing out that the relationship between the state and the nation has changed, Ala cited the abolition of the state of emergency and the expansion of citizens' rights and freedoms as important examples of this transformation. Stating that citizens who could not say "hello" to each other even in prison in the past can now watch broadcasts on state television in their own language, Ala stated that these steps were implemented with the will of the AK Party and our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Emphasizing that the nation has a say in the state administration with the AK Party governments, Ala said:
"With the AK Party, the nation has become the state. The will of the nation has dominated the administration of the state. Governments have come to power and we continue on our way. We will continue with these reforms and we constantly express the need for a new civil constitution that guarantees what we have done in Türkiye, paves the way for what we will do, and brings the nation together with its opportunities, so that what we have done will never come back and be guaranteed. Secondly, let's pave the way for the nation. Let's bring the nation together with new reforms and new opportunities." Stating that the new civilian constitution will secure Türkiye's democratic gains, Ala stated that the strong organizational structure, social support and the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, created an important accumulation in this process.
ELİTAŞ: "WE MUST CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE LOVE AND EXCITEMENT OF THE FIRST DAY"
In his speech, AK Party Deputy Chairman Mustafa Elitaş talked about the political processes and the struggle for democracy before the AK Party came to power on November 3, 2002. Stating that the interventions in Türkiye's recent political history targeted the democratic will and the nation's choices, Elitaş drew attention to the determined attitude of the government of the period against the April 27 e-memorandum. Stating that April 28, 2007 was one of the important turning points in the history of the Republic and democracy, Elitaş said that the AK Party stood against tutelage attempts by protecting the will of the nation.
"WE SHOULD NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST"
Stating that the political interventions and struggles in the past should not be forgotten, Elitaş reminded the saying "Human memory is impaired by memory" and stated that there is no guarantee that what happened in the past will not happen again in the future. Elitaş emphasized that the organizations should work determinedly in order to preserve the gains that the AK Party has achieved so far and achieve new goals, and made evaluations about the upcoming election process. Elitaş said, "There is about 1.5 years until the election. Time passes very quickly. We may have shortcomings, shortcomings and even mistakes. But let's put it on a scale." he said.
"NO STOP, KEEP ON THE ROAD"
Stating that the AK Party will continue on its way with the support of the nation in the coming period, as in the past, Elitaş pointed out the importance of the organizations maintaining the excitement and determination to work on the first day. Elitaş emphasized that the period until the 2028 elections should be used in the best way and concluded his speech by saying, "Therefore, from now on, there will be no stopping with the love and excitement of the first day, we will continue on our way." He concluded with these words:
ÇELİK: "OUR GREATEST WORK IS THE AK PARTY"
AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik stated that the basis of the democratic transformation carried out by the AK Party in Türkiye is its strong organizational structure, political will and strong bond with the nation. Stating that during the establishment of the AK Party, there was a period in which political parties in Türkiye lost their ability to produce policies and represent social demands, Çelik said that the party was established as a political movement representing the social center with its conservative democratic identity.
"POLITICS IS THE MAIN SPINE OF THE ROAD WE WALK"
Stating that the AK Party is not only a political party that won elections, but also pioneered a radical transformation in Türkiye's understanding of democracy and politics, Çelik emphasized that the political struggle of the party has a meaning beyond the politics of works and services. Stating that politics is the main element that forms the basis of the works and services implemented, Çelik said, "Politics is the main energy, the main backbone of all the works we do and the path we walk under the leadership of our President. That is why our greatest work is the AK Party." he said.
"Türkiye'S ONLY AXIS IN FOREIGN POLICY IS ANKARA"
Referring to Türkiye's foreign policy approach, Çelik reminded the axis shift debates that were brought to the agenda in the past. Stating that Türkiye acts in line with its own national interests and independent political will, Çelik said, "As our President said, Türkiye has only one axis in foreign policy, and that is the Ankara axis. No other axis can direct Türkiye's foreign policy." he said.
BÜYÜKGÜMIŞ: "WE ARE A STAFF THAT VOWS TO ENgrave THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION IN HISTORY WITH A NEW CONSTITUTION"
AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Organization Ahmet Büyükgümüş stated that the sacrifice, struggle and devotion of the members of the organization played a big role in the AK Party's coming to this day. Stating that Türkiye made a significant transformation during the AK Party governments, Büyükgümüş said that they not only produced works and services in 24 years, but also achieved a great transformation in self-confidence in Türkiye.
"UNITY, COOPERATION AND COMMON STRUGGLE SPIRIT"
Emphasizing that one of the most important elements behind this success is unity, solidarity and the spirit of common struggle, Büyükgümüş drew attention to the responsibility assumed by the organizations in the political struggle of the AK Party. He expressed that Türkiye should move forward determinedly towards big goals in the coming period. Stating that they will not allow anyone to erode the party's struggle and political stance, Büyükgümüş stated that those who are responsible for protecting the resources of the nation and the country should act in accordance with this responsibility. Büyükgümüş said, "If the person who is assigned to control and monitor the resources of the nation and the country abandons his duty and goes after loot, he will always be humiliated in this way, just as he was humiliated in history, just as he is humiliated today." he said.
"WE WILL SECURE OUR GAINS WITH THE NEW CONSTITUTION"
Pointing out the importance of the new constitution, Büyükgümüş stated that the great transformation carried out by the AK Party in Türkiye should be made permanent and democratic gains should be secured. Büyükgümüş said, "Therefore, we are a team that has vowed to engrave the great transformation we have achieved in Türkiye with our cause and struggle into history with a new constitution." he said.
ŞİMŞEK: "OUR PRIORITY IN THE ECONOMY IS SINGLE-DIGITAL INFLATION"
In his presentation, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek evaluated the growth performance of the Turkish economy during the AK Party governments, the development in production and export capacity and the economic targets of the next period. Sharing data on the long-term growth performance of the Turkish economy, Şimşek stated that the average growth rate, which was 4.7 percent in the 1923-2002 period, increased to 5.3 percent during the AK Party governments. Stating that Türkiye's share in the world economy increased from 0.7 percent in 2002 to 1.4 percent today, Şimşek said that the national income increased from 239 billion dollars to 1.6 trillion dollars.
"OUR EXPORTS REACHED 273 BILLION DOLLARS FROM 38 BILLION DOLLARS"
Drawing attention to the development in Türkiye's production and export capacity, Şimşek stated that exports reached 273 billion dollars from 38 billion dollars. He stated that the developments in industry, agriculture, tourism, defense industry and service exports made a significant contribution to the growth of the Turkish economy. Noting that they aim to increase Türkiye's economic size, as well as strengthen its production capacity, turn to high value-added products and increase its global competitiveness, Şimşek made evaluations about the economic priorities of the next period.
Şimşek said, "Our priority in the economy is single-digit inflation." he said.
Noting that maintaining fiscal discipline, reducing the current account deficit, improving income distribution and increasing high value-added production are among the priority targets, Şimşek stated that Türkiye has important opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing industry, green energy, space and aviation.
"TERRORISM-FREE Türkiye WILL OPEN THE DOOR OF A NEW ERA OF GROWTH"
Touching on the cost of the fight against terrorism on the Turkish economy, Şimşek stated that Türkiye has lost important resources due to terrorism for approximately 48 years. Pointing out that Türkiye could be in a very different economic position if the resources spent on the fight against terrorism could be used in areas such as development, education, technology and research and development, Şimşek said, "What position would Turkey be in if it spent 2.3 trillion dollars on development and R&D instead of the fight against terrorism? We are at that threshold now." he said. Terror-free Türkiye process, especially in terms of evaluating the economic potential of the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions.
