AK Party 24th Anniversary Program is an event organized to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the founding of the Justice and Development Party on 14 August 2001. The program was held on 14 August 2025 at the party’s headquarters in Ankara, in its congress and meeting halls.
Venue and Organization
The program took place within the AK Party Headquarters in Ankara, specifically in the AK Party Congress Center and additional meeting halls. The celebration program was coordinated simultaneously with the provincial chairpersons’ meeting scheduled for the same day. As part of this, provincial chairpersons, organizational leaders, party members and invited guests from various provinces of Türkiye attended the event.
The main hall was used for opening speeches and documentary screenings, while separate areas were designated for media representatives and news organizations. Security and logistical arrangements for the program were managed by the relevant units of the party’s organizational structure. The participant profile included party staff members, members of parliament, mayors, former and current leaders, representatives from provincial and district organizations, and party members.
Slogan and Theme
The main slogan of the program was set as “The Story of 24 Years: Türkiye of Unity and Brotherhood.” A documentary film was planned to showcase the party’s political activities, elections, key decisions and crisis periods since its founding. The documentary was prepared to present the party’s institutional memory and political journey through visual materials.
President Erdoğan’s Speech at the 24th Anniversary Program
President and AK Party General Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the 24th Anniversary Program held on 14 August 2025 at the AK Party Congress Center in Ankara. Beginning his address with greetings to all 81 provinces and 922 districts of Türkiye, Erdoğan defined the party’s 24th year as “the 24th year of the Anatolian uprising whose horizon and direction the nation has drawn,” and noted that the party was approaching its 25th year. He mentioned that MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli had sent a floral arrangement as a gesture of goodwill, and that other party leaders had also expressed solidarity. Erdoğan emphasized the party’s growth through new members and congratulated mayors who would wear the party badge.
Regarding criticism directed at new party members, Erdoğan said, “I say to those who have been attacking the new members of the AK Party family since yesterday with a reckless, disrespectful manner that undermines every human value: Enough is enough.” He characterized such criticism as “shameless moral brutality aimed at suppressing the stench coming from within their own homes.” Reminding listeners of the phrase “The word belongs to the speaker,” he stated that such language brings no benefit to the country, the nation or the party to which it belongs. Targeting the CHP General Chairman, he said, “He is no longer a subject of politics but rapidly becoming a subject of psychiatric science,” and added, “We have not bowed to the bullying of those who orchestrate reputation assassinations with their enablers in the media and social media, and we will not bow to them in the future.”
Speaking about the party’s founding process, Erdoğan recalled saying on 14 August 2001, “Today will be remembered in Turkish political history as the birthdate of the AK Party, founded by people devoted to serving Turkey,” and affirmed that since then the party had not deviated from the path drawn by the nation. He noted that over the past 24 years, the party had faced conspiracies, traps, closure lawsuits, terrorist attacks and coup attempts, but had overcome all these obstacles with the support of the nation. Citing the 17/25 December operation and the 15 July coup attempt, he declared, “We stood firm and did not allow a crack to open in our resolve.”
Regarding the economy and investments, Erdoğan stated that exports, which stood at 36 billion dollars in 2002, had reached 270 billion dollars in 2025; that trillions of liras had been spent across numerous areas from fixed capital investments to social services; and that the defense industry budget had risen from 5.5 billion dollars to 100 billion dollars. He noted that the Central Bank’s reserves had reached 175 billion dollars, that per capita national income had increased from 3,608 dollars in 2002 to 15,463 dollars in 2024, and that it was expected to exceed 17,000 dollars by the end of 2025. In terms of social policies, he announced that home healthcare services had been provided to 2.9 million citizens, 25 city hospitals had been opened, and 4 trillion 970 billion liras had been paid to those in need.
Regarding the “Turkey Without Terrorism” process, Erdoğan stated that it had been pursued as a state policy in collaboration with the People’s Alliance and received the broadest possible support in parliament. He said the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission’s work had been productive and that everyone contributing to this process would have their names recorded in history. He warned that attempting to pressure the process with maximalist and populist demands would be a grave burden, adding, “Türkiye has seized a historic opportunity to resolve its most chronic problem, and we will not turn a blind eye to its waste.”
On regional and global policies, Erdoğan noted that Türkiye had been surrounded by attempts to create a zone of instability, that the perpetrators of attacks in Gaza had not concealed their intentions toward the country, and that anti-Türkiye policies were evident across a wide region stretching from Syria to Africa. He declared, “We are determined to establish a belt of peace, security and stability not only within our borders but also beyond them.”
Erdoğan provided information on the “Türkiye Century Reform Program,” whose framework was outlined at the 8th Extraordinary Grand Congress. He explained that the program aims to enhance democracy, freedoms and the effectiveness of the state, and that its reforms will be implemented progressively in the coming period. He emphasized that these reforms are the source of strength sustaining the AK Party’s political continuity, that for 24 years the party has taken the nation’s support as its reference, and that its goals are “the pleasure of God and the appreciation of the nation.”
At the end of his speech, Erdoğan emphasized that the AK Party’s cadres are well-trained, experienced, and seasoned, and that young people hold significant roles within the party. He underscored the party’s culture of continuity with the statement, “We have no retirement.” He concluded his address by declaring, “We will continue producing, running, and motivating others for the homeland, the nation, and the ummah until the very last moment, until the very last breath.” He thanked those who contributed to the party’s efforts and celebrated its 24th anniversary.
Erdoğan’s wife, Emine Erdoğan, also attended the program. A documentary chronicling the AK Party’s 24-year history was screened, posters bearing the title “The Story of 24 Years: Türkiye of Unity and Brotherhood” were displayed in the hall, and Erdoğan was presented with a record featuring 24 songs. The event concluded with photo sessions and conversations with party members.
Institutional Background
The AK Party was founded on 14 August 2001 under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, emerging from the “Movement of Virtue,” as Turkey’s 39th political party. At its founding congress on 16 August, Erdoğan was elected party leader. In the general elections of 3 November 2002, the party won 34.28 percent of the vote, becoming the largest party, and formed the 58th Republic Government under Abdullah Gül’s premiership. Erdoğan assumed the office of Prime Minister in 2003 after his political ban was lifted. In the 2004 local elections, the party secured 41.7 percent of the vote, and in the 2007 general elections, it reached 46.58 percent. A closure case opened in 2008 was dismissed, and in the 2010 constitutional referendum, amendments were approved by 57.88 percent of voters.
On 10 August 2014, Erdoğan became the first President directly elected by the people with 52 percent of the vote. Following the FETÖ coup attempt on 15 July 2016, the AK Party formed the People’s Alliance with the MHP. The presidential system of government was adopted in the 16 April 2017 referendum. In the elections of 24 June 2018, Erdoğan became the first President under the new system, and the AK Party won 42.28 percent of the parliamentary vote, securing first place. In the elections of 14 and 28 May 2023, Erdoğan was re-elected President, and the AK Party was represented in parliament by 268 members of parliament.
In the local elections of 31 March 2024, the AK Party won 35.49 percent of the vote and secured control of 24 provinces and 357 district municipalities. At the 8th Ordinary Grand Congress held on 23 February 2025, 52 percent of the members of the Central Executive Committee were renewed. Amendments to the party charter established new presidencies for “Relations with Turkish States,” “Health Policies,” and “Culture and Arts Policies.”
