Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a news conference in Ankara on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), crediting the party with reshaping political culture in Türkiye and restoring public confidence in government.
Erdogan pointed to economic gains, social policy advances, and improvements in international relations as evidence of the party's record during its four years in office. He said the AKP had entered government just 15 months after its founding and had worked to close the historic divide between citizens and the state.
The prime minister emphasized the party's commitment to fighting corruption and poverty, arguing that a strong society is the foundation of a strong state. He stressed that Türkiye would make no concessions on democracy, the rule of law, human rights, or individual freedoms.
Looking ahead, Erdogan said the AKP's goal was to make the prosperity of its citizens lasting, warning that removing barriers to investment, production, and competition would be essential to reaching that aim. He also underlined the importance of strengthening civil society and empowering individual citizens.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in August 2006, in its own words.