Who is AKP ?
Mutlu Civiroglu

Structure of AKP

It is very hard to put AKP into a specific category, since the party is composed of various ideas and members, besides this party received votes from all parties: from left DSP to center right DYP and ANAP, from extreme right, ultra nationalist MHP and tiny Great Unity Party (BBP) and also from former Welfare tradition. Thus, it is not possible to talk about a specific identity of this party. Furthermore, among the leading administrators of the party, names from ANAP, DYP, MHP, RP and other former bureaucrats are coming across us. Talking to reporters, deputy chairman of the party Abdullah Gul defined his party as a democratic conservative rightist party, this seems to be a accurate identification for the AKP. We should also remember that AKP has it is clearly observed that, for not to face bitter experience of RP, they seem very careful.  Since the elections, they have been giving very soft and moderate statements. They seem to hesitate to tension the atmosphere and they don’t use head scarf as a political tool as RP did and they are very careful about their outlook. 

Tayyip Erdogan factor

Erdogan, the leader of this party has played a vital role in AKP’s rise and final election victory, because in a county where bribery, illegal relations, bad administrations, unemployment, high inflation, poverty get higher day by day people were expecting for a new party and a leader to support. Since, all the current leader and parties were seen by the voters as the responsible of all these bankruptcy Tayyip Erdogan became the most popular leader. His soft, sympathetic and victim profile became very affective in his achievement. As a matter of fact, resignation tradition never existed in Turkey until the recent elections, the reason that the looser leaders to declare their withdrawal was that the defeat was too big. As its known, all the leaders kept in their survival although they had big defeats for long years. Can you imagine, in a country 4 generations, [my grandfather, my father, me and my son] see the same politicians ? As a result, longing to a new, untried leader and a party under his leadership brought Erdogan to this party. All polls and columnists agree that the biggest factor in AKP’’ victory was Tayyip Erdogan’s himself, furthermore banning decision given by High Election Board increased this support, since he was a victim politician.