The calendar in Erdoğan's mind

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the chair of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) from the day it was founded on Aug. 14, 2001, until he resigned on Aug. 27, 2014, because he was elected the president, registering a total of 13 years and 13 days. He is back as the chair of AK Party after 998 days. 

In its rule of 15 years, the AK Party transformed and developed itself while also transforming Turkey. He did what Süleyman Demirel and Turgut Özal dreamed of doing but were not able to; Erdoğan went back to leading his party. 

If the AK Party did not experience an interregnum like the Motherland Party (ANAP) did after Özal and the True Path Party (DYP) did after Demirel, Erdoğan's leadership has a role to play in this. 

I participated in the first party conventions after political bans were lifted against Demirel, Bülent Ecevit and Necmettin Erbakan. A leader always makes a difference. Big and enthusiastic conventions were held then; sentimental moments were experienced. Erdoğan's "back at the party" convention was also big, with the excitement of his return in evidence as well. However, it was not sentimental but enthusiastic. 

President Erdoğan gave very important messages in his speech. Nobody should see themselves as "otherized," he said. 

His message to party members was that they were able to overcome tough times "because we regarded winning hearts as important as winning votes." He advised them to build "bridges to people's hearts."

He said there were exhausted ones and ones who had lost their way, drawing a clear line between themselves and those who abandoned the AK Party for the first time. 

He also launched a rejuvenation process in the party administration and provincial branches. "Our...