Erdoğan's AKP holds grand congress in 'jam-packed' hall

Photos: AA

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The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) held its 7th Ordinary Grand Congress in the capital city of Ankara today (March 24).

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who also chairs the AKP, gave a nearly two-hour speech to thousands of closely packed party members at the Ankara Sports Hall.

The AKP has been holding provincial congresses with large crowds since mid-January.

Erdoğan was criticized for praising the crowd at the February 15 congress in his hometown Rize, where he had said, "We are holding a congress in the period of the pandemic and the hall is jam-packed."

Covid cases have been on the increase over the past weeks in the country as the Health Ministy yesterday (March 24) reported the highest daily cases since mid-December.

Ahead of the congress, Erdoğan addressed his supporters waiting outside the hall.

Election of the party chair, changes in the party's internal regulation, which include an increase in the number of the members of the party's Central Decision and Executive Board, and election of the Central Discipline Committee members were scheduled at the congress.

The president started his speech by sending greetings to all 81 provinces with poetic expressions, which took more than 20 minutes.

"A different Turkey"

He then said, "Those who kept our country and nation out of such radical changes by making them constantly busy with internal problems are after the same trick. But they won't succeed this time. Because there is a different Turkey this time.

"This time, there is a Turkey that is not content with only protecting what he has but demonstrates its determination to take the place it deserves in the new global political and economic order...

"This time, there is a Turkey that tears up the scenarios that had been played out over it for centuries, that demolishes all the traps set up for it especially in the last eight years, that doesn't move away from its targets."

In the later parts of his speech, Erdoğan made remarks on several issues, including the economy, a new constitution, women's rights, and family.

The economy

Erdoğan said the recent market fluctuations do not reflect the potential of the country's economy.

Turkey's stocks and the country's local currency lost ground this week following the weekend dismissal of Central Bank Governor Naci Ağbal.

The president urged the public to put their "under-the-mattress" gold and foreign currency assets into use with the economy and production while calling on international investors to trust Turkey's strength and potential.

"In the coming days, we will reach a much better position by expanding the Turkish economy in terms of investment, production, employment, and exports," Erdoğan said.

Touting the tourism sector, one of the country's main sources of income, Erdoğan stressed that Turkey closed out 2020 with 16 million tourists and $12.4 billion revenue amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We will continue proceeding through the target of 75 million tourists in the coming period," he added.

A new constitution

The president said a new civilian constitution for Turkey is inevitable, in light of both national history and the evolving global context.

"We want a constitution that our nation wants to be ruled by," he stressed, adding that Turkey's current constitution – largely the holdover from a 1980 coup – has lost its validity.

Underlining that the new constitution should be a constitution of the people, not putschists or a tutelage regime, he said that they want to make progress early next year on drawing up a new charter.

"The new constitution's text, which will emerge with the widest possible consensus, will definitely be submitted for the nation's approval," said Erdoğan​​​​​​​.

Women's rights

"... We have things to say tho those who seek the protection of women's rights not in conscience but in papers," Erdoğan said, referring to his recent decision to pull Turkey out of the İstanbul Convention to combat violence against women.

He also lamented the increase in the number of people who don't get married, saying that the country should protect the institution of the family. (AS/VK)