Turkish leaders mark 19 years since AK Party swept into power

ISTANBUL

Turkish leaders are marking 19 years since the Justice and Development (AK) Party swept to power in the country with a huge election win.

Vice President Fuat Oktay issued a message Wednesday on Twitter saying: “Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, since Nov. 3, 2002, we have done much great work and great services."

Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also celebrated the anniversary, sharing a video touting the actions of the AK Party for the last 19 years.

“What we have done is the guarantee of what we will do,” said Altun.

The AK Party emerged on the political scene in 2001 under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who in 2003 became prime minister and, since 2014, serves as the country’s president.

In 2018, under his leadership and after a referendum, Turkey did away with the premiership and fully shifted to a presidential system of government.

The party first swept into power in the Nov. 3, 2002 elections, capturing some two-thirds of seats in parliament – the first party in over a decade to win an outright majority.

Turkey's next elections are set for 2023.