ESKİŞEHİR – In a comprehensive address delivered during the "Turkey Meetings" (Türkiye Buluşmaları) program in Eskişehir, Ali İhsan Yavuz, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman and Head of Election Affairs, provided definitive clarity on the country’s political roadmap. Addressing a gathering of party officials, lawmakers, and local representatives, Yavuz dismissed persistent rumors regarding an early election, asserting that the national polls remain scheduled for 2028. Beyond the electoral timeline, Yavuz detailed the progress of a high-level committee working on a new civilian constitution and highlighted the strategic growth of Turkey’s infrastructure, specifically the expansion of Istanbul Airport.
The program, held at a local hotel, served as a platform for the AK Party leadership to engage with regional stakeholders and communicate the government’s long-term vision. Yavuz was joined by a significant delegation of parliamentary figures, including Fatih Dönmez, Chairman of the TBMM Artificial Intelligence Research Commission and Eskişehir MP; Ayşen Gürcan, Chairwoman of the TBMM National Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Commission and Eskişehir MP; and Nebi Hatipoğlu, AK Party MKYK member and Eskişehir MP. The presence of several other lawmakers, including Osman Gökçek (Ankara), Nazım Maviş (Sinop), Ertuğrul Kocacık and Murat Kaya (Sakarya), Hasan Arslan (Afyonkarahisar), and Emine Yavuz Gözgeç (Bursa), underscored the importance the party places on maintaining a unified front as it looks toward the end of the current decade.
A Clear Mandate for 2028: Dismissing Early Election Speculations
The most anticipated portion of Yavuz’s speech focused on the timing of the next general and presidential elections. As the head of the party’s election affairs, Yavuz noted that he is frequently approached with questions regarding potential changes to the electoral calendar. He was firm in his response, stating that the government is currently in a "period of labor," focusing on governance rather than campaigning.
"There is no election next year, contrary to what some might claim," Yavuz stated, directly addressing the speculative atmosphere often fueled by opposition circles. "You should consider that elections will take place within the year 2028. At this moment, there is no decision taken by our party to move the date forward because there is still a significant amount of time ahead of us. We are in a season of work."
Yavuz elaborated on the dedication of the executive branch, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with the cabinet of ministers, deputy chairmen, and members of parliament, are fully engaged in their respective duties. He emphasized that this momentum would be maintained until the 2028 milestone. However, he also took the opportunity to explain the technical and legal frameworks that govern the timing of elections in Turkey, providing a window into the party’s strategic thinking regarding the President’s future candidacy.
Under the current legal framework, the date for the next election is naturally set for May 2028, requiring no intervention from the Supreme Election Council (YSK) or the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to remain in place. Yet, Yavuz outlined three distinct constitutional pathways for altering this date: a formal constitutional amendment, a presidential decree to renew elections, or a decision by the TBMM to renew elections.
Specifically, Yavuz pointed toward a parliamentary decision as the preferred route for the party. "We want the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to take a decision to renew the elections within the year 2028—perhaps just a week or two before the original scheduled date," he explained. This specific maneuver is viewed as a strategic legal path that would allow President Erdoğan to seek another term as leader. "We want our President to continue as our leader and our President once again. We strongly predict and believe that this is how it will unfold," Yavuz added, reinforcing the party’s commitment to Erdoğan’s continued leadership.
The Vision for a New Civilian Constitution
A significant portion of Yavuz’s address was dedicated to the ongoing efforts to draft a new, "civilian, democratic, and inclusive" constitution. He revealed that a specialized 10-person commission, chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, has been working intensely on this project. Yavuz, who is a member of this committee, indicated that the drafting process has reached a critical juncture.
"Our enthusiasm for a new constitution remains as strong as ever," Yavuz said. "We will, sooner or later, realize the goal of a new, civilian, and democratic constitution. President Erdoğan established this 10-person commission for this exact purpose. We have worked for a long time under the chairmanship of our Vice President, Cevdet Yılmaz, and the matter has reached a certain point."
According to Yavuz, a comprehensive presentation of the committee’s findings and proposals will be made to President Erdoğan in the very near future, pending the President’s schedule. Once the presentation is complete, the party will determine the next steps in the legislative process.
To illustrate the necessity of constitutional reform, Yavuz cited the rigidities of the current system, which he argued often hinder practical administrative improvements. He pointed to the difficulties the government faced when attempting to separate the dates of mukhtar (neighborhood head) elections from municipal elections.
"We wanted to change the date of the mukhtar elections," Yavuz explained. "We realized that holding them on the same day as municipal elections leads to complications, such as voters moving their registrations and other logistical issues. We thought, ‘Let’s separate these two; let’s put a six-month gap between them.’ But we couldn’t do it. Why? Because of constitutional barriers."
He argued that if the government and the parliament cannot even make a simple administrative adjustment to a local election date due to constitutional constraints, it proves the current document is outdated. "You are talking about a constitutional system where you can’t even do this. Beyond that, it is essential and imperative for the people to create their own constitution to replace one drafted by coup-plotters. Our passion for this change continues unabated."
Infrastructure as a Metric of Success: The Growth of Istanbul Airport
Switching focus to the government’s record of tangible achievements, Yavuz used the success of Istanbul Airport as a rebuttal to long-standing criticisms from the opposition. He recalled his recent travels from Ağrı to Istanbul to demonstrate the facility’s operational efficiency and its role as a global hub.
Yavuz took a moment to reflect on the skepticism voiced by opposition figures during the airport’s construction phase, specifically mentioning former CHP lawmaker Engin Özkoç and the broader party leadership. "They said Istanbul Airport could never function there. They claimed the location was wrong, that planes would enter Bulgarian airspace immediately upon takeoff, that bird migration routes weren’t considered, and that the wind direction would make it unusable."
Countering these historical claims with current data, Yavuz noted that the airport handled 84 million passengers last year without being hampered by wind or bird strikes. For the current year, the target has been set at 87 million. The infrastructure continues to expand, with the fourth runway recently becoming operational.
"The ninth runway will eventually come into service," Yavuz projected. "When that happens, by the grace of God, we will see 200 million passengers flying through that airport annually. Those who doubted its viability should look at these results."
Strengthening Party Ties and Local Engagement
The "Turkey Meetings" in Eskişehir, led by Yavuz and the visiting delegation, are part of a broader strategy by the AK Party to maintain a pulse on local sentiments across the country’s provinces. Following the public speeches, the meeting continued behind closed doors, where Yavuz and the MPs reportedly engaged in more detailed discussions with local party members regarding regional needs and organizational strategies.
The delegation’s visit to Eskişehir is seen as an effort to consolidate the party’s base in a city that remains a key political battleground. By bringing together MPs from various provinces—such as Ankara, Sakarya, and Sinop—the AK Party aims to demonstrate a national synergy, linking local governance with central policy-making.
Gürhan Albayrak, the AK Party’s Eskişehir Provincial Chairman, also attended the meeting, emphasizing the local branch’s readiness to support the national objectives outlined by Yavuz. The discussions touched upon various sectors, including education and sports, represented by the committee chairs in attendance, signaling a holistic approach to the "2028 vision."
As the program concluded, the message from the AK Party leadership was clear: the government intends to utilize the remaining years of its mandate to finalize major structural reforms, including the new constitution, while doubling down on mega-projects that define its economic legacy. By setting the election date firmly in 2028, Yavuz and his colleagues signaled that they are not distracted by political rumors, but are instead focused on a strategic path designed to ensure both administrative stability and the continued leadership of President Erdoğan.
