View source for 1st Justice and Development Party Extraordinary Congress

{{Infobox election
| election_name     = 2014 Justice and Development Party leadership election
| country           = Turkey
| type              = convention
| ongoing           = no
| previous_election = 4th Justice and Development Party Ordinary Congress
| previous_year     = 2012
| election_date     = 27 August 2014
| next_election     = 5th Justice and Development Party Ordinary Congress
| next_year         = 2015
| turnout           = 97.7%
| 1blank            = Constituency
| 2blank            = Popular vote
| 3blank            = Percentage
<!-- Ahmet Davutoğlu -->
| image1            = [[File:Secretary Kerry Meets With Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu (2) (cropped).jpg|216x216px]]
| candidate1        = '''[[Ahmet Davutoğlu]]'''
| 1data1            = [[Konya]]
| colour1           = {{party color|Justice and Development Party (Turkey)}}
| party1            = Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
| 2data1     = '''1,382'''
| 3data1       = '''100%'''
<!-- bottom -->
| title             = Leader
| before_election   = [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]
| before_party      = Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
| after_election    = [[Ahmet Davutoğlu]]
| after_party       = Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
}}

The '''2014 Extraordinary Congress of the Justice and Development Party''' ({{lang-tr|Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi Olağanüstü Kongresi}}) was held on 27 August 2014 in order to elect a new leader of the [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|Justice and Development Party]] (often abbreviated AK Party or AKP), the ruling [[political party]] of [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aa.com.tr/tr/haberler/378600--ak-partide-1-olaganustu-kongre-hazirlaniyor|title=AK Parti Olağanüstü Kongreye hazırlanıyor|publisher=Anatolian Agency|accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref> It was the first extraordinary congress in the party's history, necessitated by the [[2014 Turkish presidential election|election]] of party leader [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] as the 12th [[President of Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/983375-30-bin-partiliyle-erdogana-veda-davutogluna-merhaba-kongresi|title=30 bin partiliyle Erdoğan'a veda Davutoğlu'na 'Merhaba' kongresi|publisher=Haber Türk|accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref> Former [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)|Foreign Minister]] and [[Konya]] MP [[Ahmet Davutoğlu]] was unanimously elected unopposed as party leader. The congress marked the last public appearance of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Prime Minister, as he assumed the Presidency the day after. The congress took place at a time of significant change to [[Turkish politics]], with the opposition [[Republican People's Party]] also holding an [[2014 Republican People's Party Convention|extraordinary convention]] on 5–6 September.

==Background==
[[File:Ankara Arena.JPG|230px|thumbnail|left|The [[Ankara Arena]], venue for the 2014 [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]] extraordinary congress]]
The AKP had initially made preparations for their first ever extraordinary congress before the presidential election on August 10, on the correct assumption that their party leader and presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajanshaber.com/ak-parti-olaganustu-kongre-karari-aldi-haberi/103530|title=AKP olağanüstü kongre kararı aldı!|publisher=Ajans Haber|accessdate=26 August 2014|archive-date=11 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811053240/http://www.ajanshaber.com/ak-parti-olaganustu-kongre-karari-aldi-haberi/103530|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 21 August, the AKP's Central Executive Board put forward Foreign Minister [[Ahmet Davutoğlu]] as a candidate for the leadership of the party, since Erdoğan must sever all relations with the AKP by the time he takes over as President on 28 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iha.com.tr/adiyaman-haberleri/ak-partiden-olaganustu-kongre-aciklamasi-adiyaman-848479/|title=AKP'den Olağanüstü Kongre Açıklaması|publisher=İhlas Haber Ajansı|accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref> The decision by the AKP Central Executive Committee (MYK) to nominate Davutoğlu for the leadership was taken in a three-hour meeting chaired by Erdoğan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/politika/erdogan_yeni_basbakani_acikliyor-1208245|title=Erdoğan: AKP'nin yeni genel başkan adayı Ahmet Davutoğlu|publisher=Radikal|accessdate=25 August 2014}}</ref> The election of Davutoğlu, a key Erdoğan loyalist, as party leader and Prime Minister has been viewed as a means by which Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will remain in indirect command of the government as well as the Presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/08/21/turkey-davutoglu-expected-to-be-docile-prime-minister-with-erdogan-calling/|title=Turkey's Davutoglu expected to be a docile prime minister _ with Erdogan calling the shots|publisher=Fox News|accessdate=25 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11049794/President-elect-Recep-Tayyip-Erdogan-names-ally-Ahmet-Davutoglu-as-new-Turkey-PM.html|title=President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan names ally Ahmet Davutoglu as new Turkey PM|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=25 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/erdogan-allies-likely-dominate-turkeys-cabinet-124139219--business.html|title=Erdogan allies likely to dominate Turkey's new cabinet : source=Reuters|publisher=Yahoo News|accessdate=25 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-erdogan-will-single-handedly-run-turkey-as-president-2014-8|title=How Erdogan Will Single-Handedly Run Turkey As President|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate=25 August 2014}}</ref>

==Event==
The congress took place in at the [[Ankara Arena]]. Two large screens relaying live footage of the congress, as well as pictures of Erdoğan and Davutoğlu, were placed outside the stadium for AK supporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sozcu.com.tr/2014/gundem/akpde-kongre-heyecani-586967/|title=AKP'de kongre heyecanı|publisher=Sözcü|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref> The lack of air conditioning caused notable discomfort, especially to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ahmet Davutoğlu.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.internethaber.com/ak-partide-tarihi-kongre-basladi-canli-yayin-714459h.htm|title=Erdoğan ve Davutoğlu kan ter içinde kaldı - AKP kongresi|publisher=İnternet Haber|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref> Around 900 journalists, of which 100 were from international news agencies, as well as several foreign guests also attended the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bianet.org/bianet/siyaset/158125-akp-kongresi-nde-13-basin-kurulusuna-akreditasyon-engeli|title=AKP Kongresi'nde 13 Basın Kuruluşuna Akreditasyon Engeli|publisher=Bianet|accessdate=28 August 2014}}</ref>

===Agenda===
The agenda for the congress was as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gundem.bugun.com.tr/ak-parti-canli-izle-olaganustu-kongre-haberi/1235747|title=AKP Canlı İzle Olağanüstü Kongre (AKP KONGRE YAYINI)|publisher=Bugün|accessdate=27 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831053513/http://gundem.bugun.com.tr/ak-parti-canli-izle-olaganustu-kongre-haberi/1235747|archive-date=31 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

:1. Opening and roll call
:2. Election of the Council president
:3. [[İstiklal Marşı|Independence March]] performance
:4. Recital of the agenda
:5. Party leader's speech
:6. Leadership candidates to apply to the Council President
:7. Leadership candidates' speeches
:8. Wishes and vestments
:9. Leadership election (congress would re-convene on 28 August should a simple majority not be reached)
:10. Leader's thank-you speech
:11. Closure

AKP deputy leader [[Süleyman Soylu]] announced that 1,245 delegates had initially arrived and had all nominated Davutoğlu for the leadership, which was enough for a leadership election to take place. A video of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's history was played.

===Erdoğan's speech===
[[File:Recep Tayyip Erdogan.PNG|200px|thumbnail|right|[[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], leader of the Justice and Development Party from 2001 to 2014]]
In his speech lasting 110 minutes, Erdoğan vowed to keep fighting the "parallel state" which he claimed is formed by bureaucrats and judicial officials from [[Gülen movement|Cemaat]] aligned with [[Fethullah Gülen]]. He claimed that the change of leadership would only be cosmetic, with the party's principles and missions remaining the same. He further stated that the nomination of Davutoğlu as leader was not for show or as a "trustee". Claiming that the AKP's "road to a new Turkey" was in the vision of both [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] and [[Adnan Menderes]], Erdoğan stated that his absence would by no means result in the party's downfall or loss of political vision. In his closing remarks, he criticised the opposition [[Republican People's Party]] (CHP) for its refusal to not attend his swearing in as a democratically elected President, the [[Nationalist Movement Party]] (MHP) for its opposition to the [[PKK]] peace process and the [[Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey)|Peoples' Democratic Party]] (HDP) for supporting terrorism. Claiming that supporters of such opposition parties had also supported his [[2014 Turkish presidential election|presidential election bid]], Erdoğan thanked his voters and hoped that the opposition would learn from their electoral losses.<ref name="auto"/>

===Davutoğlu's speech===
Davutoğlu's speech contained harsh criticism for the [[Gezi Park protests|2013-14 anti government protests]] as well as the [[2013 corruption scandal in Turkey|2013 corruption scandal]], claiming that their main aim was to damage the confidence that the AKP had given the people of Turkey while in government. Arguing that the AKP has a dream for a new Turkey, he claimed that anyone who did not see such a dream should be embarrassed. He also promised to not marginalise or polarise the electorate, and vowed to safeguard the union of the nation. He stated that Erdoğan's election as President as well as the formation of a new government will mark the start of the road to a new Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sozcu.com.tr/2014/gundem/akpde-kongre-heyecani-586967/|title=AKP'de kongre heyecanı|publisher=Sözcü|accessdate=28 August 2014}}</ref>

===Party Council election===
The elected leaders of the party council ''(divan)'' are as follows:<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.aksam.com.tr/siyaset/tarihi-kongrede-ahmet-davutoglu-genel-baskan-secildi/haber-334404|title=Tarihi kongrede Ahmet Davutoğlu Genel Başkan seçildi|publisher=Akşam|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref>

*[[Haluk İpek]] – AKP general secretary and [[Ankara]] MP, elected as Council President
*[[Berna Satır]] – [[Istanbul]] MP and parliamentary group leader, elected as Council Vice President

The elected council members are as follows:<ref name="auto1"/>

*[[Mehmet Doğan Kubat]] – Istanbul MP
*[[Gönül Bekin Şahkulubey]] – [[Mardin]] MP
*[[Güldal Akşit]] – President of the AKP Women's Wing
*[[Zafer Çubukcu]] – President of the AKP Youth Wing
*[[Aziz Babuşcu]] – leader of the AKP Istanbul branch

===Leadership election===
Ahmet Davutoğlu was the only registered candidate for election. A total of 1,388 delegates voted with 15 ballot boxes.<ref name="auto1"/>

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
!scope="col", colspan="2"|Candidate
!Votes
!Percentage
|-
|style="background:#fdc400; width:4px; text-align:center;"| || align=left|[[Ahmet Davutoğlu]]||1,382||100.0
|-
|scope="col", colspan="2"|{{align|left|Invalid/blank votes}}||6||–
|-
|scope="col", colspan="2"|{{align|left|'''Total'''}}||'''1,388'''||'''100.0'''
|-
|scope="col", colspan="2"|{{align|left|Number&nbsp;of&nbsp;delegates/turnout}}|| 1,420||97.7
|-
|align=left colspan=4|Source: [http://www.aksam.com.tr/siyaset/tarihi-kongrede-ahmet-davutoglu-genel-baskan-secildi/haber-334404 Akşam]
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Justice and Development Party congresses}}

[[Category:2014 in Turkey]]
[[Category:Justice and Development Party (Turkey)]]
[[Category:2014 elections in Turkey]]
[[Category:2014 conferences]]
[[Category:August 2014 events in Turkey]]
[[Category:2010s political conferences]]