Erdoğan's reformist character leaves its mark on 10-year rule

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan becoming Turkey's prime minister, the longest period for a politician to occupy this post in Turkey's history, and many recognize the central role of Erdoğan's reformist stance in the country's civilianization and democratization.

In parliamentary elections held on Nov. 3, 2002, Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AK Party) won the votes sufficient to form a single-party government. Incumbent President Abdullah Gül, an AK Party founder and Kayseri deputy at the time, established the 58th government in place of Erdoğan, who could not run for Parliament due to a legal obstacle. Erdoğan was later elected deputy from Siirt on March 9, 2003. Gül dissolved the government on March 11 and Erdoğan formed the 59th government three days later.


According to retired military judge Faik Tarımcıoğlu, Erdoğan's most significant success has been to maintain political stability in Turkey and take the necessary steps for civilianization.

“As a man of the people, Erdoğan sticks by the need to be accountable to the people. He attends mosque; he mingles with people; he pays visits to people's houses. If the public did not like him, no one would support him. When politicians act this way, they have less of a possibility of making mistakes. In this way, he continues in the line of [former Prime Ministers] Adnan Menderes and Turgut Özal,” Tarımcıoğlu told Today's Zaman.

He noted that Turkey, thanks to steps taken by Erdoğan, has evolved into a civilian country of which the military tutelage of previous years would have never conceived.

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