Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference in Ankara on Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the founding of his Justice and Development Party (AKP), crediting the party with reshaping Türkiye's political culture and restoring public confidence in government.
Erdoğan highlighted that the AKP took office just 15 months after its establishment and said the party had delivered measurable gains in the economy, social policy, and foreign relations during its four years in power.
He argued that self-serving political practices had become obsolete, comparing them to the old Turkish lira burdened by excess zeros, and said the AKP had instead concentrated on the country's core challenges.
The prime minister also stressed the importance of closing the historic divide between citizens and the state, saying his government had worked to strengthen civil society, fight corruption and poverty, and empower individuals.
Erdoğan outlined his vision going forward, saying Türkiye must protect its democratic institutions, rule of law, and human rights while removing barriers to investment and competition in order to sustain long-term prosperity.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in August 2006, in its own words.