Erdogan Reflects on Political Journey in Exclusive Al Jazeera Interview

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has participated in an extensive exclusive television interview with Al Jazeera Arabic. The high-profile conversation was conducted by journalist Ali Al Dafiri and broadcast to viewers across the international network, offering a detailed retrospective on the Turkish leader's decades-long trajectory in national politics.

This special media appearance was arranged to mark a significant historical milestone for the ruling political movement in Turkiye: the 25th anniversary of the Justice and Development Party, which is widely referred to as the AK Party. The political organization has remained a dominant force in the country's governance for more than two decades.

President Erdogan's extensive career in public office traces back to the early 1990s, a foundational period that included his election as the mayor of Istanbul. That initial executive role in the nation's largest metropolis established his reputation as a formidable political figure capable of winning major democratic mandates.

Building upon his foundational years in municipal administration, Erdogan reached a major turning point on the national stage in 2001 by founding the Justice and Development Party, or AK Party. Under his leadership, the newly established political formation quickly gained widespread public support and reshaped the modern political landscape of Turkiye.

Following the political ascent of his party, Erdogan served three consecutive terms as the prime minister of Turkiye, steering the nation through significant domestic and economic transformations. His tenure in the nation's highest legislative and executive office culminated when he transitioned to the presidency in 2014.