Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in an article published to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Justice and Development Party that his party aims to bring Türkiye a stronger democracy, productive economy, pioneering technology, effective foreign policy and strong social solidarity.
Erdoğan said the party’s founding anniversary falls on August 14 and that its 25-year political journey represented a historic transformation for Türkiye. He noted that the party was established with the people at a time of political crises, economic uncertainty and pressure from tutelage.
Emphasis on democracy and public services
Erdoğan said the party’s main goals at the time of its founding were to place politics at the service of the people, strengthen the bond of trust between the state and citizens, and ensure that Türkiye became a strong country capable of making its own decisions.
Erdoğan said democratic legitimacy had grown stronger over the past 25 years, the state’s capacity to provide services had improved, and the participation of different segments of society in public life had increased. He described the coup attempt of July 15, 2016, as one of the most difficult tests for the democratic will.
Erdoğan said that night the people defended the elected will and the constitutional order, adding that it marked a turning point in leaving the period of tutelage behind, strengthening civilian politics and consolidating democracy.
Investment in production and technology
Erdoğan said investments in education, healthcare, transportation, energy, social policies and urban development had formed the tangible foundation of the transformation, adding that Anatolia’s production and development capacity had been increased.
Erdoğan said the participation of women, young people, people with disabilities and all segments of society in economic and social life had been supported. He noted that steps in the defense industry and advanced technology had significantly reduced external dependence in strategic fields.
Erdoğan said work ranging from unmanned aerial vehicles and the national combat aircraft Kaan to warships and air defense systems had strengthened Türkiye’s production and technology capacity. He listed Togg, Türkiye’s space program, nuclear energy investments and the natural gas discovered in the Black Sea among the symbols of this new self-confidence.
Erdoğan said this accumulated experience would be transformed into a new breakthrough in artificial intelligence, chip technologies, energy technologies and high-value-added production in the coming period.
Message of multilateralism in foreign policy
Erdoğan said Türkiye was one of the influential actors in an international system that was becoming increasingly multipolar, adding that the country pursued a multidimensional approach based on diplomacy, dialogue and humanitarian responsibility while protecting its national interests.
Erdoğan said Türkiye contributed to peace and stability across a wide geography stretching from the Black Sea to the Middle East, and from the Caucasus to Africa. He said Türkiye was a strong ally in NATO, an active member of the G20, a leading country in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and one of the main actors in the European security structure.
Erdoğan said strategic autonomy provided the basis for establishing more balanced relations founded on mutual respect and common interests. He added that international organizations needed to reflect existing power balances and the diversity of societies more fairly.
Erdoğan said global peace and security could not produce lasting solutions to crises if they remained dependent on the priorities of a limited number of countries, adding that a more inclusive, effective and accountable international order was necessary.
Reconstruction efforts in the earthquake zone
Erdoğan said the party had faced numerous challenges over its 25-year period, including terrorist attacks, regional wars, irregular migration movements, a global pandemic and economic fluctuations. He added that these periods had demonstrated the importance of strong institutions, effective public administration and solidarity between the state and the people.
Erdoğan said the earthquakes of February 6, 2023, which affected 11 provinces and millions of citizens, were among the worst disasters in Türkiye’s history. He added that the earthquakes had left deep wounds in society.
Erdoğan said all the state’s resources had been mobilized from the first moments of the disaster, adding that significant progress had been made in reconstruction efforts ranging from safe housing and production infrastructure to social life and the preservation of the historical fabric.
Economic goals and opportunities for young people
Erdoğan said the fundamental factor that had kept the Justice and Development Party strong for 25 years was the bond of affection it had established with the people. He added that changing social expectations, young people’s search for a future and economic difficulties needed to be assessed openly together with the way politics operated.
Erdoğan said the fight against inflation would continue resolutely in the coming period, while production, investment and employment would be increased. He said he aimed for a Türkiye where work and labor were properly rewarded, prosperity reached all segments of society, and young people had fairer access to opportunities ranging from education and employment to entrepreneurship and housing.
Erdoğan described the shared determination to build a common future in the second century of the Republic as the “Century of Türkiye.” He said they aimed to increase the people’s prosperity, strengthen regional stability and contribute to establishing a fairer international order by combining the legacy of the past with the opportunities of the future.
