AKP

Two deputies and 15 mayors will be joining the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), deputy leader Hamza Dağ announced on Aug. 13.

"Our AKP is a party that is always stronger, new, alive and young with the power it derives from its roots," Dağ said during a press conference discussing the programs planned for the party's 23rd anniversary.

The Turkish parliament has adjourned until Oct. 1 following the approval of a contentious bill regulating the handling of stray dogs.

The bill, which has sparked months of heated debates and protests, was endorsed after 28 hours of deliberation over two days.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has replaced the heads of its provincial organizations in seven cities a day after a five-hour meeting of its executive committee.

The party on June 25 announced the appointment of new provincial heads for Adıyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Erzincan, Gaziantep, Kastamonu, Osmaniye and Zonguldak.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has appointed ambassadors to five countries, including regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia.

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has unveiled his ruling party's list of mayoral candidates for Istanbul's districts in the upcoming local elections scheduled for March 31.

The announcement came during a meeting at the Haliç Congress Center on Jan. 20, where the candidates representing the AKP-led People's Alliance were introduced.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands with former presidential candidate of the ATA Alliance, Sinan Ogan (L) in Istanbul. 19 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/PRESIDENT PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT

"I will support President Erdogan in the second round and I call on our supporters to vote for People's Alliance's candidate Erdogan," Ogan said on Monday.

Members of Turkey's parliament meet at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, TBMM, in Ankara, 2 January 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/STR

The 600-seat parliament will have 16 political parties thanks to the political alliance system that was introduced by the executive presidential system in 2018.

• More than 64 million Turkish citizens are eligible to vote in the polls. They will choose between three presidential candidates and 36 parties in 87 electoral districts.
• Voters will decide the fate of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP as they face a united democratic opposition.

The Twitter logo is seen on a smartphone held beside a Turkish flag. Photo: EPA/Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

"The Turkish government has accelerated its efforts to enforce censorship and tighten control over social media and independent online news sites ahead of this election," said Deborah Brown, senior technology researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Imamoglu speaks to the crowd in Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Photo: Istanbul Municipality