The ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) extraordinary convention has started in Ankara to elect President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the party’s new chairman after a three-year break, marking a new era in Turkish politics.
“We will continue to walk together day and night,” Erdoğan told the crowd gathered in front of the Ankara Arena Sports Center on his arrival. Tens of thousands of people coming from 81 provinces of the country flocked to the sports centers to greet Erdoğan and to show their support for his return to the AKP as the chairman.
“No stop! We will now walk for the 2019 elections,” Erdoğan said.
Erdoğan is expected to outline his road map until 2019 and to select his top aides at the party management.
In the congress, where the main motto was revealed as “New Leap Forward Process” and “Democracy, Change, Reform,” the AKP’s top officials will be revised, which will also mark the expected cabinet change in the following days.
The party regulation will also be changed in the congress predominantly in order to overcome legal difficulties stemming from Erdoğan’s party leadership and the presidency.
Some 470 delegates will vote for the leadership and the determination of the party’s Central Decision and Executive Committee and Central Executive Board.
Date: 21/05/2017
