Politics
Türkiye codifies sphere of influence in Blue Homeland
A new draft bill for Türkiye’s maritime rights is expected to be presented to Parliament in weeks. Aiming to cover all legal aspects of what Türkiye calls the “Blue Homeland,” or maritime areas where the country has sovereignty, it will cement and clarify the rights across Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean, as well as the Marmara Sea.
Safeguarding the Blue Homeland rights is essential for Ankara, especially at a time of growing international cooperation, particularly with Israel, for Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, whose maritime claims contradict those of Türkiye and other countries.
Hüseyin Fazla, founder and director of Strategic Research Centre (STRASAM) and a retired air force brigadier general, says the bill will be a valuable work to merge all relevant regulations under one framework and further institutionalize Türkiye’s maritime rights.
The bill was introduced to the public on May 12 at a press conference organized by Ankara University’s National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM), the main body that prepares maritime maps to support Türkiye’s maritime jurisdiction policies. Professor Çağrı Erhan, acting chair of the Turkish Presidency’s Board of Security and Foreign Policies, told the press conference that maritime laws have been dynamic and Türkiye needed to follow developments in the laws. He said the draft bill was not specifically aimed at any country.
“We are talking about a text based on the rights and interests of the Turkish nation. Other countries may believe that the world belongs to them only. We do not heed what they are worried about,” he said, in thinly veiled remarks against Greece.
Fazla says the press conference was an indicator of a turning point in Türkiye’s maritime vision, and the bill would grant authority to Parliament, but mostly to the presidency, for executing the maritime rights.
As expected, the talk of a draft bill angered Greece, which has disputed Türkiye’s rights, particularly in the Aegean, for decades. Indeed, both Ankara and Athens agree that this might be the sole dispute that may take more time to resolve than others between two neighbors with a history of hostilities. They reached out to each other in the past decade, with more visits by leaders and warming diplomatic ties, but no tangible progress has been made on maritime disputes. Instead, Türkiye has witnessed Greece and Greek Cypriots on the divided island of Cyprus; how they cohabited with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), engaging in more cooperation with countries like Israel, a major foe of Türkiye, on defense and other critical fields. In light of these developments, Blue Homeland rights became a more crucial issue.
“I think the work on the bill is very beneficial for raising awareness of the issue among politicians, the army, the bureaucracy and the public. It ultimately aims to protect Türkiye’s rights and interests. Nevertheless, this has an international dimension too, and it would be important to see the international reaction,” Fazla told Daily Sabah.
Over the past century, the Republic of Türkiye has been at odds with its neighbors over maritime rights. Similarly, Greece invoked international laws that are also supposed to protect the rights of Türkiye. Fazla says the draft bill brings a fresh point of view to “a mechanism where Türkiye strived to maintain control over its maritime jurisdiction through various laws and regulations,” noting that it was significant to amalgamate steps on the issues regarding continental shelf, exclusive economic zones, etc. He added that the draft also included the definition of internal bodies of water, such as the Çanakkale Strait, Marmara Sea and Bosporus, and this was another significant aspect of the bill. “This, on the other hand, does not contradict the Treaty of Montreaux and rather, it is a viewpoint reinforcing Türkiye’s sovereign rights,” he said.
Signed on July 20, 1936, at the Montreaux Palace in Switzerland, the treaty gives Türkiye permission to remilitarize the Bosporus and Çanakkale Strait. It came into effect on Nov. 9, 1936, and was registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series on Dec. 11, 1936. It gives Türkiye control over the Bosporus and Çanakkale Strait and regulates the transit of naval warships. The convention guarantees free passage to civilian vessels in times of peace and restricts the passage of naval ships that do not belong to littoral Black Sea states. Fazla said it was not right to describe it as a violation of the treaty while it was simply a redefinition of the legal framework.
Last Thursday, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said that Türkiye’s bill was “an unilateral attempt outside the framework of international law” and would “fail.” He stated that it would not have “any international enforcement” and added that the international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should prevail over “domestic visions.” Türkiye is not a party to the 1982 convention and defends that the convention’s certain provisions are not based on the principle of equity.
Filling the gaps
Fazla said he believed that the new law would fill the gaps in Türkiye’s attempts to assert its maritime rights and zone of influence. This is essential, according to Fazla, on several levels. One of them is hydrocarbon exploration. As a matter of fact, sovereign rights are intricately linked to the right to access to underwater resources. He pointed out Greece’s declaration of intent to extend its territorial waters from 6 nautical miles to 12 nautical miles and how it brought about several disputes. “But the real issue is beyond that and is now more focused on exclusive economic zones, especially access to hydrocarbon resources,” Fazla said. He recalled the emergence of several oil exploration areas in 2007, south of Cyprus, and how the Greek Cypriot administration declared issuing licenses for 13 areas of oil exploration, including five within the Turkish continental shelf.
“They de facto seized these areas and brought in multiple actors such as Noble Energy. They made deals with Egypt. In 2003, Turkish Foreign Ministry warned Egypt but their relations thrived and in February 2003, Egypt and the Greek Cypriot administration reached a deal. They sought to safeguard their own interests in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
On the legal history of maritime disputes, Fazla noted that Türkiye has also not been a party to the 1958 Convention on the Continental Shelf adopted in Geneva but all developments regarding the maritime issues affected Türkiye to an extent. “Conventionally, Türkiye’s territorial waters are designated as extending 6 nautical miles, specifically in the Aegean, but it is practiced as 12 miles in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. This is, however, a ‘practice,’ a customary designation. In 1964, Türkiye enacted Law No. 476 and established the breadth of its territorial waters as 6 nautical miles. It does not specify any seas. Therefore, Türkiye, for instance, has no strict delimitation in the Black Sea. Having the breadth of 12 miles in the Black Sea has been viewed as acceptable in terms of Türkiye’s rights and interests,” he said. Fazla noted that Türkiye then enacted the Territorial Waters Law or Law No. 2674 in 1982, and this also established the breadth of territorial waters as 6 miles in the Aegean.
He noted that the new bill will likely combine what is practiced and what was defined in the law and bring about more clarity to the issue. “It will help define our policies,” he underlined.
Türkiye has been adamant in safeguarding its rights in territorial waters, something that has been most vivid in a 1995 resolution passed by the Turkish Parliament, mentioned by Fazla. On June 8 that year, Parliament declared that any unilateral extension of the Greek territorial waters beyond 6 nautical miles in the Aegean Sea would be a casus belli or a cause of war. “This is our red line. However, we don’t implement 6 miles in the Black Sea or Mediterranean and 12-mile practice there did not stir up problems with any country,” he underlined.
That “war” Parliament predicted in the future never happened, but Turkish and Greek jets often engaged in confrontations over the Aegean Sea in the 1990s, coming dangerously close to an all-out conflict. Fazla says tensions may linger in the future, especially in terms of the breadth of Greek territorial waters off the island of Meis or Kastellorizo. The said island is just a few kilometers away from the Turkish coast and more than 300 kilometers from the Greek mainland.
Fazla said that Türkiye, however, should keep the parliamentary resolution on casus belli even after implementing the law. “Anything to imply the removal of casus belli may play into the hands of Greece, and in the Aegean, we may have a diplomatic challenge,” he noted.
A response by Greece to Türkiye’s bill, such as enforcing a 12 nautical miles claim, will be unacceptable for Türkiye, Fazla noted. “Türkiye cannot accept, neither in terms of territorial waters nor airspace, a limit going above 6 miles. If the de facto situation is upgraded to de jure and we are severely limited in movement across the Aegean, this will be an unsustainable situation,” he said. Fazla believed Türkiye’s 6-mile claim in the Aegean will likely be emphasized in the draft bill. “We need to embed our discourse on this matter into law. We are seeing a dynamic course in the international developments. The decision-makers need to act swiftly nowadays. Therefore, I think it is correct to authorize the presidency to make swift decisions,” he said. Fazla said the bill may have amendments in the future, but ultimately, it is expected to “pave the way for a structure compliant both with internal laws and international laws.”
“Ultimately, we will switch to a stable law, an institutional mechanism. For instance, the army and the foreign ministry may have different views on this matter but clarifying the matter and authorizing the presidency will be a more correct way forward,” he added.
Regional influence
Fazla stated that Türkiye needed a more proactive approach instead of “waiting and seeing” as geopolitical conditions changed, giving examples of discoveries of new energy resources and creation of new regional alliances. “Türkiye is already becoming a regional power. We have to transform into the role of the main actor setting the rules itself, we have to project our power,” he underlined. He noted that exclusive economic zones were particularly important and that Türkiye should have a law that will not allow others to utilize those zones. “What we have to do is to support our Blue Homeland discourse with a law,” he said.
He pointed out Türkiye’s maritime activities in several seas, from seismic survey in the Eastern Mediterranean to the Turkish navy’s presence off the coast of Somalia, as well as the work on the extraction of natural gas off Sakarya in northwestern Türkiye.
“These activities will likely grow. So, it will be better to define those activities under one law, which will be more beneficial. We have to employ our own ships in our own exclusive zone without any obstruction. The world is investing more in energy security. So, we need to support our new discoveries and developments regarding access to hydrocarbon sources with laws. The law should also cover future developments. We have to have a legal infrastructure, instead of being forced to confront other countries in the maritime activities,” he emphasized.
Among other benefits of the law, Fazla lists attracting international financing for energy investments and guarantees over Türkiye’s exclusive economic zones. “In the end, it will help make Türkiye the land of stability in the energy supply security. It will eliminate the risk of uncertainty. For instance, we will have a framework through the law, for our agreement with Libya.”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) marked its 25th anniversary on Friday. In power for more than two decades, the party looks forward to more feats under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
During the celebrations marking the anniversary, the party also rolled out a “vision paper.” The paper summarizes a strategy for growth and development across 10 chapters.
Comprehensive goals were laid out under headings covering a leading country in the global system, a high-tech and high value-added economy, national technology and digital sovereignty, a predictable legal system, a human-centric state, a strong family and prosperous society, women’s role in the “Century of Türkiye,” youth as architects of the future, green transformation, and Türkiye on the threshold of its second quarter-century. Erdoğan had earlier announced similar goals for what he called the “Century of Türkiye” vision, in reference to the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye in 2023.
In the first chapter, the document aims for Türkiye to transcend being merely a regional actor and become a global leader that inspires trust, builds partnerships, and shapes the international order. Key elements include an order-building foreign policy, a resilient security ecosystem, energy security, strategic production and a terror-free region.
Regarding economic growth, the focus centers on high-value-added production across industry, agriculture, and energy. Domestic production in the defense industry has expanded significantly, while agriculture emphasizes food security and farmer welfare. In health care, the target moves toward manufacturing health technologies, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines. For energy, goals include expanding renewables, diversifying through nuclear power and small modular reactors, and manufacturing solar, wind, and battery assets domestically.
Digital sovereignty initiatives emphasize artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and technological independence, ensuring technology serves the public good while addressing data protection, digital addiction, and cyberbullying under the Cyber Homeland framework.
In the legal realm, the vision targets the protection of fundamental rights, an independent judiciary, and a libertarian, inclusive constitution that balances individual freedoms with public order.
For governance and urban development, the document details plans for human-centric smart cities, data-driven local administration and expanded social housing, including building 500,000 social units and transforming 150,000 independent units annually across all 81 provinces.
To strengthen society, the 2026–2035 period is designated as the “Decade of Family and Population,” providing economic support for young families, housing access, and work-life balance. Policies for women focus on STEM education, AI literacy, entrepreneurship, flexible work options, and zero tolerance for violence. For youth, the strategy prioritizes support in science, arts, sports, and decision-making roles while combating addiction.
Environmental targets include advancing toward the 2053 net-zero emission goal, treating water security as a component of national security, adapting agriculture to climate change, and expanding public green spaces.
Finally, the strategy integrates a strong economy, robust democracy, inclusive constitution, effective public administration, qualified human resources, green transformation, defense capability, and active diplomacy as mutually reinforcing pillars for the next 25 years.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the 25th anniversary of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Friday by highlighting Türkiye’s transformation in defense, infrastructure and public services over the past quarter-century while pledging that the party would not slow its push for further change.
Speaking at celebrations commemorating the party’s foundation on Aug. 14, 2001, Erdoğan said the AK Party had entered its second quarter-century after delivering on 90% of the commitments included in its party programs and election manifestos.
“Let no one expect us to grow tired,” Erdoğan said, stressing that despite what he described as major achievements over the past 25 years, the party’s work was far from finished.
Erdoğan pointed to Türkiye’s expanding domestic defense industry as one of the most significant changes under successive AK Party governments, saying the country had gone from importing even infantry rifles to producing its own warships, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, tanks, missiles and submarines.
He also highlighted investments in the economy, health care, education and transportation, describing them as some of the largest projects undertaken in Türkiye’s history.
Erdoğan said the governments led by his party had used both their electoral mandate and public resources to expand the economy, promote development and strengthen the country.
Recalling the AK Party’s establishment, Erdoğan said the movement was founded under the message “Closed to darkness, open to light,” alongside the pledge that political authority and decision-making belonged to the people.
“Today is a very special and historic day,” he said. “We are marking our 25th anniversary with great pride.”
The president also cited the lifting of restrictions on women wearing headscarves in universities, schools and public institutions, as well as the abolition of a university admissions coefficient system that had disadvantaged vocational school graduates.
Erdoğan pointed to the reopening of Hagia Sophia for Muslim worship in 2020 as another pledge fulfilled during the party’s time in government. The landmark had operated as a museum for decades before being redesignated as a mosque.
Turning to Türkiye’s political system, Erdoğan said the presidential system of government had addressed what he described as the country’s long-standing problem of instability in governance. Türkiye formally transitioned from a parliamentary system to an executive presidency in 2018 following a 2017 constitutional referendum.
Erdoğan also thanked the AK Party’s partners in the People’s Alliance, which he said was forged during the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, for continuing to work together for Türkiye’s future and security.
He separately thanked Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli for sending flowers to mark the anniversary and expressed appreciation to other political party leaders who conveyed their congratulations by telephone or message.
The AK Party was founded under Erdoğan’s leadership on Aug. 14, 2001, and first came to power after winning the November 2002 general elections. It has since remained the dominant force in Turkish politics, with Erdoğan serving first as prime minister and later as president.
Türkiye and Egypt agreed on the need for stronger measures to address Israel’s violations in Gaza as the two regional powers deepen cooperation on a range of regional crises, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday.
Fidan, speaking at a news conference alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in El Alamein, described Egypt as Türkiye’s “natural partner” and voiced hope that the growing relationship between Ankara and Cairo would soon evolve into a formal partnership.
“Our region has lost too much time to wars, occupations and internal conflicts. We have a significant gap to close,” Fidan said, stressing the need for closer regional cooperation.
Fidan said Ankara and Cairo were working closely on Gaza and had agreed that stronger measures were needed regarding the situation in the Palestinian enclave.
Noting that Israel’s failure to fulfill its commitments under the terms of the Gaza peace deal may push Ankara and Cairo and other mediators to take radical steps, Fidan said both countries expect the U.S. to apply necessary pressure on Tel Aviv.
“Otherwise, Türkiye, Qatar, and Egypt will have to take radical steps on this issue. This is a responsibility we owe to our nation, our people, and the Palestinians,” Fidan said.
He also emphasized the broader importance of cooperation between the two countries as they seek to coordinate their positions on conflicts and political crises across the region.
“Our region has lost too much time to wars, occupations and internal conflicts. We have a significant gap to close,” Fidan said.
“Egypt is our natural partner, and hopefully it will soon become our formal partner as well,” he added.
Fidan sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government over their provocative policies in the region.
“We see that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team are increasingly escalating policies that trample on human dignity and are adopting an attitude that effectively provokes the entire international community,” he said.
On Libya, Fidan said Türkiye and Egypt were aligned on safeguarding the North African country’s territorial integrity.
“Türkiye and Egypt share the same view regarding Libya’s unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty and indivisibility,” he said.
Fidan also addressed regional tensions involving Iran, saying Ankara hoped for the restoration of a cease-fire between the United States and Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“We hope that the cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran will be reestablished and that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened,” he said.
Referring to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Fidan described the pact as a landmark development for regional cooperation.
“The Mecca alliance, by its very nature, has marked a historic moment for our region,” he said.
Abdelatty, meanwhile, emphasized the strength of the relationship between Ankara and Cairo and the need for sustained coordination as the region confronts multiple crises.
“Relations between Türkiye and Egypt are truly built on strong foundations,” Abdelatty said.
“We face many challenges in the region, and considering this, we must remain in constant consultation,” he said. “Today, we held constructive talks with Mr. Fidan, and senior officials also participated in these meetings. There is political will to advance our relations.”
Abdelatty said he expected bilateral relations to continue developing, including through greater coordination between the Turkish and Egyptian private sectors.
He said closer cooperation between the two countries could serve as an example to the international community.
Turning to Syria, Abdelatty said Türkiye and Egypt shared opposition to Israeli attacks targeting Syrian sovereignty.
“In our meeting with Minister Fidan, we expressed that we oppose and condemn all Israeli attacks on Syria’s sovereignty,” he said.
Abdelatty also highlighted the two countries’ shared position on Sudan amid the conflict there.
“We are in full agreement with Türkiye on supporting Sudan’s territorial integrity and categorically rejecting its partition,” he said.
The two ministers also signed three documents aimed at strengthening cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt following their talks and the second meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group in El-Alamein. The documents included the minutes of the Joint Planning Group meeting, a decision amending Protocol No. 3 on rules of origin under the Türkiye-Egypt Free Trade Agreement, and Egypt’s accession document to a memorandum of understanding on strengthening transport connectivity between Türkiye and African coastal countries.
The talks in El Alamein came as Türkiye and Egypt continue to strengthen bilateral ties following years of strained relations, while expanding coordination on Gaza, Libya, Syria, Sudan and other regional issues.
Ankara prosecutors have launched an investigation into main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) lawmaker Ahmet Baran Yazgan over allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, while his party referred him to disciplinary proceedings with a request for permanent expulsion on Friday.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said it launched the investigation over video footage circulating on social media and related allegations involving Yazgan, a CHP lawmaker representing the northwestern province of Edirne.
The investigation covers alleged offenses of “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault limited to molestation,” according to the prosecutor’s office.
CHP Deputy Chair and spokesperson Müslim Sarı separately announced that Yazgan had been referred to the party’s disciplinary board as a precautionary measure with a request for permanent expulsion.
“Within the framework of our party’s fundamental principles, bylaws and disciplinary provisions, Edirne lawmaker Ahmet Baran Yazgan has, as of today, been referred to disciplinary proceedings with a request for permanent expulsion,” Sarı said.
The developments followed an altercation at an apartment in Edirne early Thursday.
Police were dispatched to the residence in the city’s Cumhuriyet neighborhood after residents reported hearing sounds of a fight.
Yazgan told police that he had been assaulted, that his cellphone had been taken and that he was filmed during the incident. Officers later found his phone under a refrigerator and returned it to him.
Three people, including two women, were detained over the altercation.
The suspects told investigators that they had gone to T.A.’s residence following a birthday celebration, where they consumed alcohol with Yazgan before an argument escalated into a physical confrontation.
The parties filed complaints against each other. The suspects accused Yazgan of sexual harassment, threats and insults, while N.D. said she suffered a hand injury from a piece of glass during the altercation.
Footage purportedly showing parts of the incident is also being examined as part of the investigation.
The three suspects were later released by a criminal judgeship of peace under judicial control measures and were barred from traveling abroad.
The CHP said Yazgan had also been summoned to party headquarters for an internal inquiry into the incident.
Turkish ministers and political figures on Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), highlighting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership and the party’s quarter-century in Turkish politics.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi recalled Erdoğan’s remarks at the party’s founding on Aug. 14, 2001, when he declared that, “Nothing in Türkiye will ever be the same again.”
Çiftçi said the statement opened the door not only to a new political movement but also to a new era for Türkiye.
“Exactly 25 years have passed since that day,” Çiftçi stressed, adding that Erdoğan and the party had faced numerous challenges during that period.
He said Erdoğan had left a significant mark on Türkiye’s recent history through his leadership and policies, while maintaining a strong connection with the public.
Citing Erdoğan’s statement that “the AK Party’s dough was kneaded by the nation,” Çiftçi noted public support had been at the core of the party’s political journey.
Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum also issued an anniversary message, saying the party’s establishment 25 years ago marked the beginning of a political movement built around what he described as the nation’s values and the vision of a stronger Türkiye.
“Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our AK Party, which placed the nation’s will at the center of politics and transformed Türkiye through its works, today represents 25 years of struggle, service and cause,” Kurum said.
AK Party spokesperson and Deputy Chair Ömer Çelik described the anniversary as an exceptional milestone in the country’s political history.
Çelik said reaching the party’s 25th year after such a long period in government was a rare political achievement, describing the anniversary as a “celebration.”
“We have carried out this entire process under the leadership of our president with uninterrupted rule in a way rarely seen in political history,” Çelik said.
He argued that the party’s longevity stemmed from its relationship with voters and Erdoğan’s approach to politics, saying public approval had provided the basis for its continued governance.
Furthermore, Mustafa Destici, chair of the Great Unity Party (BBP), also congratulated Erdoğan and the AK Party on the anniversary.
Destici said the AK Party had played a major role in Türkiye’s political life over the past quarter-century while confronting political, economic and social challenges, terrorist attacks and the July 15, 2016, coup attempt.
He also pointed to Türkiye’s growing regional and international role and developments, including the establishment of the Organization of Turkic States and the reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque.
Destici said cooperation within the People’s Alliance would continue around shared objectives, including national unity, economic strength, counterterrorism and greater independence in the defense industry.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), founded under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 14, 2001, marked its 25th anniversary Friday, completing a quarter-century in which it has won every general election it has contested and reshaped the country’s political landscape.
Established as Türkiye’s 39th political party by a movement led by Erdoğan, then a former Istanbul mayor, the AK Party entered national politics with a pledge for sweeping political change.
“From now on, nothing in Türkiye will be the same,” Erdoğan said at the party’s launch. Two days later, he was unanimously elected its chair.
Just 15 months after its establishment, the AK Party won the Nov. 3, 2002, general election with 34.28% of the vote. Erdoğan was barred from running because of a political ban, and Abdullah Gül formed the 58th government.
Erdoğan enters Parliament
After legal changes lifted his political ban, Erdoğan won a parliamentary seat in a rerun election in the southeastern province of Siirt on March 9, 2003.
Following Gül’s resignation as prime minister, Erdoğan formed Türkiye’s 59th government on March 15, beginning more than a decade as premier.
The AK Party consolidated its position in subsequent elections, receiving 41.7% in the 2004 local elections and 46.58% in the 2007 general election.
The party faced one of its most serious legal challenges in 2008 when Türkiye’s chief prosecutor filed a case seeking its closure and political bans for 71 figures, including Erdoğan and Gül.
Six Constitutional Court judges voted to close the party and five opposed the move, falling short of the qualified majority required for a ban.
Referendums, election victories
A constitutional referendum in September 2010 became another milestone for the party, with 57.88% voting in favor of a package of constitutional amendments.
The AK Party subsequently received 49.83% of the vote in the 2011 general election, one of its highest nationwide vote shares.
In 2014, Erdoğan shifted from the prime minister’s office to the presidency. He won 51.79% of the vote on Aug. 10, becoming Türkiye’s first president elected directly by popular vote.
Ahmet Davutoğlu succeeded Erdoğan as AK Party chair. After the June 2015 election produced no single-party government, the AK Party regained its parliamentary majority in the Nov. 1 snap election.
Binali Yıldırım became party chair and prime minister in May 2016.
Presidential system changes
Türkiye’s political trajectory changed sharply with the July 15, 2016, coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
Erdoğan called on citizens to take to the streets and public squares, while resistance to the coup attempt helped foster closer political cooperation between the AK Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), laying the groundwork for the People’s Alliance.
A constitutional referendum on April 16, 2017, approved a shift to an executive presidential system with 51.41% support.
The changes also allowed the president to retain party membership. Erdoğan rejoined the AK Party after 979 days and was reelected its chair at an extraordinary congress in May 2017.
The AK Party and MHP contested the June 24, 2018, elections under the People’s Alliance, as Türkiye held presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously for the first time.
Erdoğan won the presidency with 52.59%, becoming the first president under the new system, while the AK Party received 42.56% in the parliamentary vote.
The alliance continued into the 2019 local elections, in which the AK Party received 44.33% nationwide.
The COVID-19 pandemic later disrupted the party’s congress process, but its seventh ordinary congress was eventually held in March 2021, with Erdoğan again elected chair.
Erdoğan wins new term in 2023
Türkiye returned to the polls in May 2023 for presidential and parliamentary elections.
Erdoğan received 49.52% in the first presidential round, forcing a runoff. The AK Party received 35.62% of the parliamentary vote and secured 268 seats.
Erdoğan defeated his challenger in the May 28 runoff with 52.18%, securing another presidential term.
The victory extended the AK Party’s record of finishing first in every general election it had contested since its establishment and maintained its position as the longest-governing party since Türkiye entered its multiparty era in 1946.
The March 31, 2024, local elections represented a setback for the AK Party, which received 35.49% of the vote and won 24 provincial and 357 district municipalities.
Erdoğan acknowledged the message delivered by voters and pledged to evaluate the results, after which the party began replacing provincial and district officials.
That renewal accelerated at the AK Party’s eighth ordinary congress on Feb. 23, 2025. Thirty-nine new members joined its Central Decision and Management Board, renewing 52% of the body.
Further organizational changes followed, including replacements of provincial chairs in 15 provinces.
‘Terror-free Türkiye’ initiative
One of the latest chapters in the AK Party’s quarter-century in politics has been the “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, which followed a call by MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli in October 2024 and was subsequently backed by Erdoğan.
A parliamentary National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission began work in August 2025 to address terrorism, social integration, national unity, democracy and the rule of law.
The commission adopted its report in February 2026.
A bill setting out the legal framework for the process was submitted to Parliament on Aug. 5, 2026. The legislation links its implementation to an official determination that the PKK terrorist group and affiliated structures have ended their operational existence and surrendered weapons under their control.
Parliament approved the legislation on Aug. 10 with 467 votes in favor, 87 against and seven abstentions.
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