By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party will hold an extraordinary congress to reelect President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chairman after a break of some three years, the party announced Monday.
Speaking to journalists after the AK Party’s Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) meeting Monday afternoon, Deputy Chairman Yasin Aktay said, “Today’s meeting decided that the party will hold an extraordinary congress on May 21. We envision that the president will be our party’s chairman.”
Starting in 2001, Erdogan led the AK Party for 13 years but had to step aside when he became president in August 2014. An April 16 referendum changed the Constitution to allow the president to be a member of a political party.
Aktay also reiterated that the party will hold a meeting Tuesday to renew Erdogan’s membership. He added that the party took the decision unanimously.
On May 21, the party will also elect a new Central Decision and Executive Board, as well as a new top management, Aktay said.
