The Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) third extraordinary congress is being held in Ankara today as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the founder of the AK Party, is set to be chosen as chairman of the party again, following 998 days of separation. At the congress, President Erdoğan said Turkey’s ongoing state of emergency will not end until the country establishes peace.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “Our democracy was heavily wounded in the Feb. 28 intervention. The ties of the parties under custody with the nation were almost severed.”
Speaking at the ruling AK Party congress, the Turkish president went on to say: “The AK Party is the guarantor of democracy. We have successfully maintained our nation’s seat of honor. The AK Party has worked arduously, acutely aware of the fact that our services are at the bottom of the secret. As long as God allows, we will continue working collectively for the sake of serving our nation.”
Fight against FETÖ
“Turkey, as a nation, has no patience in the face of any further attempts to defame the state by the terrorist organization the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ). Unless this fight is carried out in a strong, effective manner, our country will continue to face even bigger dangers. Thus, I invite everyone to support this fight. The fight against FETÖ must be carried out via methods that are worthy of our nation’s sacrifice while not harming the common shared values of the Turkish nation.”
State of emergency
“They ask when the state of emergency will end. In Turkey, FETÖ is attempting to overthrow the government. How can you dare to ask such a question? The state of emergency will not end until the situation [in Turkey] is resolved peacefully. We extended the state of emergency for the sake of our country’s welfare and we will continue to keep the measure in place.”
