Erdoğan: “AK Party Stronger Than Ever, Will Grow Even More”

Speaking at the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) 24th Anniversary Program at the party’s Congress Center, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed new members to the party and delivered a sharp rebuke to critics targeting recent joiners.

Erdoğan congratulated the newly affiliated mayors, stating:

“We are expanding the AK Party family with new members. I congratulate the mayors whose party badges we will soon present.”

Criticizing what he described as offensive and unethical attacks against these new members, Erdoğan said:

“To those attacking our new members with immoral and reckless rhetoric, I say, ‘Enough.’ They sit on filth and try to throw it at others. They engage in character assassination to cover the stench in their own homes. We will not bow to such indecent individuals.”

The President also targeted Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel, accusing him of being the subject of blackmail and threats, adding:

“If there is someone being blackmailed or threatened, it’s no one other than this gentleman. The CHP Chairman is no longer a political matter but increasingly a subject for psychiatry.”

Erdoğan emphasized that the AK Party would not be drawn into “low-level politics,” declaring:

“Let him be disturbed; we will disturb him even more. While he struggles in the mud he’s stuck in, we will focus on our work. No matter what is said, AK Party is stronger today than yesterday, and it will be even stronger tomorrow.”