History of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Timeline
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a Turkish politician serving as President since 2014. He co-founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001 and served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2014. He also served as mayor of Istanbul (1994-1998). His tenure has been marked by socially conservative policies and increasing authoritarianism, democratic backsliding, and suppression of dissent.
4 hours ago : Erdogan Threatens Israel Invasion and Calls Netanyahu 'Hitler' Amid Rising Tensions.
Recep Tayyip Erdo?an threatened to invade Israel, leading to heightened tensions. Turkey also referred to Netanyahu as 'Hitler of Our Time,' sparking further conflict. These escalations mark a significant downturn in relations.
1905: Birth of Ahmet Erdoğan
In 1905, Ahmet Erdoğan, Erdoğan's father, was born.
1915: Inhumane consequences of the events of 1915
In April 2014, Erdogan's office offered condolences for the mass killings of Armenians and stated that the events of 1915 had inhumane consequences.
1915: Atrocities against Armenian civilians in 1915.
In April 2015, Pope Francis described atrocities against Armenian civilians in 1915 as the first genocide of the 20th century.
1915: Dispute over events of 1915
The Armenian genocide occurred in 1915.
1922: Atrocities against Armenian civilians in 1922
In April 2015, Pope Francis described atrocities against Armenian civilians in 1922 as the first genocide of the 20th century.
1923: Gökalp's pre-1923 Ideal of a Modern Islamic-Turkish State
In 2019, Erdoğan publicly recited Ziya Gökalp's Soldier's Prayer poem, signaling his affinity with Gökalp's pre-1923 ideal of a modern, leader-led Islamic-Turkish state, and he associates this with a vision extending beyond the boundaries of the Treaty of Lausanne.
1924: Birth of Tenzile Erdoğan
In 1924, Tenzile Erdoğan, Erdoğan's mother, was born.
1926: Mehmet Erdoğan Born
In 1926, Mehmet, the half-brother of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
1929: Hasan Erdoğan Born
In 1929, Hasan, the half-brother of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
February 1954: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Born
In February 1954, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born. He is a Turkish politician who has been the president of Turkey since 2014.
1955: Emine Erdoğan Born
In 1955, Emine Erdoğan (née Gülbaran) was born in Siirt.
1958: Mustafa Erdoğan Born
In 1958, Mustafa, the brother of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
1961: Turkey signed 19 IMF loan accords.
Since 1961, Turkey has signed 19 IMF loan accords.
1965: Graduation from Primary School
In 1965, Erdoğan graduated from Kasımpaşa Piyale Primary School.
1965: Vesile Erdoğan Born
In 1965, Vesile, the sister of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
1976: Joined National Turkish Student Union
In 1976, Erdoğan engaged in politics by joining the National Turkish Student Union and became head of the Beyoğlu youth branch of the Islamist National Salvation Party (MSP).
July 1978: Erdoğan Marries Emine Gülbaran
On July 4, 1978, Erdoğan married Emine Gülbaran (later Emine Erdoğan).
1979: Ahmet Burak Erdoğan Born
In 1979, Ahmet Burak Erdoğan, son of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
1980: Death of Havuli Erdoğan
In 1980, Havuli Erdoğan, father's first wife, died.
1980: Military Coup
In 1980, the military coup dissolved all major political parties, affecting Erdoğan's position.
1981: Necmettin Bilal Erdoğan Born
In 1981, Necmettin Bilal Erdoğan, son of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
1983: Joined Welfare Party (RP)
In 1983, Erdoğan followed Necmettin Erbakan's followers into the newly founded Welfare Party (RP).
1983: Esra Erdoğan Born
In 1983, Esra Erdoğan, daughter of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
1984: Appointed Beyoğlu District Chair
In 1984, Erdoğan became the Welfare Party's Beyoğlu district chair.
1984: Elected Welfare Party's Beyoğlu district chair
In 1984, Erdoğan was elected as the Welfare Party's Beyoğlu district chair.
1985: Appointed Head of Istanbul Branch
In 1985, Erdoğan became head of the Welfare Party's Istanbul branch.
1985: Elected Welfare Party's Istanbul chair
In 1985, Erdoğan was elected as the Welfare Party's Istanbul chair.
1985: Sümeyye Erdoğan Born
In 1985, Sümeyye Erdoğan, daughter of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was born.
1986: Failed to get elected
In 1986, Erdoğan entered the parliamentary by-elections of 1986 as a candidate in Istanbul's 6th electoral district, but failed to get elected.
1988: Death of Father Ahmet Erdoğan
In 1988, Ahmet Erdoğan, Erdoğan's father, passed away.
1991: Anti-Terror Law Powers Reduced
During Erdoğan's time as Prime Minister, the far-reaching powers of the 1991 Anti-Terror Law were reduced.
1991: Welfare Party Increased Vote Share
In 1991, the Welfare Party more than doubled its share of the vote in Istanbul, but Erdoğan was not elected to parliament due to preferential votes.
1994: Elected Mayor of Istanbul
In 1994, Erdoğan was elected mayor of Istanbul.
December 1997: Incitement to violence and religious or racial hatred
In December 1997 in Siirt, Erdoğan recited a modified version of a poem and was regarded by the judge as an incitement to violence and religious or racial hatred.
1997: Erdoğan Recites Ziya Gökalp's Soldier's Prayer Poem
In 1997, Erdoğan publicly recited Ziya Gökalp's Soldier's Prayer poem, signaling his affinity with Gökalp's pre-1923 ideal of a modern, leader-led Islamic-Turkish state.
1998: Convicted for inciting religious hatred
In 1998, Erdoğan was convicted for inciting religious hatred and banned from politics after reciting a poem by Ziya Gökalp.
1998: End of term as mayor of Istanbul
In 1998, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's term as mayor of Istanbul ended.
March 1999: Imprisonment
In March 1999, Erdoğan began serving a four-month prison sentence and was forced to give up his mayoral position.
July 1999: Release from prison
In July 1999, Erdoğan was released from prison.
1999: Released from prison and formed AKP
In 1999, Erdoğan was released from prison and formed the AKP.
1999: Turkey Applied for EU Membership
In 1999, Turkey had applied for EU membership.
1999: Released 'This Song Doesn't End Here' Album
In 1999, the day Erdoğan went to prison, he released an album called This Song Doesn't End Here. After his release, Erdoğan sought refuge in Tetovo, Macedonia.
2001: Co-founded Justice and Development Party (AKP)
In 2001, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan co-founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
December 2002: Siirt Election Canceled
In December 2002, the Supreme Election Board canceled the general election results from Siirt due to voting irregularities and scheduled a new election for 9 February 2003.
2002: Inheriting the Turkish Economy
In 2002, Erdoğan inherited a Turkish economy that was beginning to recover from a recession as a result of reforms implemented by Kemal Derviş. Erdoğan supported Finance Minister Ali Babacan in enforcing macro-economic policies.
2002: AKP Victory in the Election
In 2002, Erdoğan led the AKP to a landslide victory in the election for the Grand National Assembly.
2002: Erdoğan Speaks on Homosexual Rights and Freedoms
In 2002, Erdoğan stated that "homosexuals must be legally protected within the framework of their rights and freedoms", and that the treatment they get on television screens is inhumane.
2002: AKP won 34% of the vote in the general elections
In 2002, the AKP won 34% of the vote in the general elections.
2002: Turkish Central Bank Reserves
In 2002, the Turkish Central Bank had $26.5 billion in reserves.
February 2003: Elected as Prime Minister
In February 2003, Erdoğan was able to run for parliament due to a legal change and won the rescheduled election in Siirt, becoming Prime Minister.
March 2003: Became Prime Minister
In March 2003, Erdoğan became prime minister after the Gül government ended his political ban.
2003: Became Prime Minister
In 2003, Erdoğan became prime minister after winning a by-election in Siirt.
2003: Statement on Georgian Origin
In 2003, Erdoğan was reported to have said he was of Georgian origin but later denied this.
2003: Labor Act Reform
In 2003, Erdoğan's government implemented the Labor Act, a comprehensive reform of Turkey's labor laws that significantly expanded employee rights. The reform established a 45-hour workweek, limited overtime, provided legal protection against discrimination based on sex, religion, or political affiliation, prohibited discrimination between permanent and temporary workers, entitled employees terminated without "valid cause" to compensation, and mandated written contracts for employment arrangements lasting a year or more.
2003: Health Transformation Program (HTP) Launched
In 2003, Erdoğan's government initiated the Health Transformation Program (HTP), aiming to enhance healthcare quality and provide financial protection to all citizens.
2003: Appointed 25th Prime Minister of Turkey
In 2003, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became the 25th prime minister of Turkey.
2003: "Come on girls, [let's go] to school!" Campaign
In 2003, the Turkish government, in collaboration with UNICEF, launched the "Come on girls, [let's go] to school!" campaign to address the gender gap in primary school enrollment, with a focus on providing quality basic education for girls, especially in southeast Turkey.
2003: Amnesty Granted to Expelled Students
In 2003, the parliament granted amnesty to students expelled from universities before 2003. The amnesty applied to students dismissed on academic or disciplinary grounds.
2003: Alleged Sledgehammer coup plans written
The original Sledgehammer document containing the coup plans, allegedly written in 2003, was found to have been written using Microsoft Word 2007.
December 2004: President Putin's Visit to Turkey
In December 2004, President Putin visited Turkey, marking the first presidential visit in the history of Turkish-Russian relations since Nikolai Podgorny's visit in 1972.
2004: Inflation Falls to 9.0%
During Erdoğan's leadership, inflation fell from 32% to 9.0% in 2004.
2004: Erdoğan Named "The European of the Year 2004"
In 2004, Erdoğan was recognized as "The European of the Year 2004" by the European Voice newspaper for his reform efforts aimed at Turkey's accession to the European Union.
2004: Expansion of the "Green Card" Program
In 2004, as part of the Health Transformation Program, the "Green Card" program, which offers health benefits to the poor, was expanded.
2004: Construction of Marmaray Started
In 2004, construction began on Marmaray, an undersea rail tunnel beneath the Bosphorus strait.
2004: Death Penalty Abolished
In 2004, the death penalty was abolished for all circumstances during Erdoğan's time as Prime Minister.
May 2005: Erdoğan's Visit to Israel
On May 1, 2005, Erdoğan visited Israel and Yad Vashem, which was an unusual gesture for a leader of a Muslim majority country.
October 2005: Negotiations Began for Turkey's Accession to the European Union
On October 3, 2005, negotiations for Turkey's accession to the European Union formally commenced during Erdoğan's tenure as Prime Minister.
2005: Erdoğan Proposes Joint Turkish-Armenian Commission
In 2005, Erdoğan and Deniz Baykal proposed the creation of a joint Turkish-Armenian commission to investigate the mass killings of Armenians during World War I, but the offer was rejected by Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.
August 2006: Visit by Saudi monarch
In August 2006, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz as-Saud made a visit to Turkey, marking the first visit by a Saudi monarch to Turkey in the last four decades.
2006: Death of Hasan Erdoğan
In 2006, Hasan Erdoğan, the half-brother of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, died.
2006: Monument to Humanity Commissioned
In 2006, the Monument to Humanity, a Turkish-Armenian friendship monument in Kars, was commissioned to represent the rapprochement of the two countries.
April 2007: Protests Against Presidential Candidacy
On 14 April 2007, an estimated 300,000 people marched in Ankara to protest against the possible candidacy of Erdoğan in the 2007 presidential election. On 24 April 2007 that the party had nominated Abdullah Gül as the AKP candidate in the presidential election.
July 2007: AKP Victory in General Election
On 22 July 2007, the AKP won an important victory over the opposition, garnering 46.7% of the popular vote.
November 2007: Second visit by Saudi monarch
On November 9, 2007, the Saudi monarch, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz as-Saud, made a second visit to Turkey.
2007: Military E-memorandum warning the government
During the chaotic 2007 presidential election, the military issued an E-memorandum warning the government to keep within the boundaries of secularism when choosing a candidate.
2007: AKP Election Victory
In 2007, Erdoğan led the AKP to another election victory.
2007: Constitutional Reform Package Proposed
In 2007, after the opposition parties deadlocked the presidential election, the ruling AKP proposed a constitutional reform package which included electing the president by popular vote, reducing the presidential term, allowing re-election, holding general elections every four years, and reducing the quorum of lawmakers needed for parliamentary decisions. The reform package was supported by 68.95% of the voters.
2007: Failed Constitution Reform due to lack of support
In 2007, despite being one of the main pledges of the AKP during the election campaign, the main opposition party CHP was not interested in altering the Constitution on a big scale, making it impossible to form a Constitutional Commission. The amendments lacked the two-thirds majority needed to become law instantly, but secured enough votes to put the proposals to a referendum.
March 2008: Asked the country's Constitutional Court to ban Erdoğan's governing party
On 14 March 2008, Turkey's Chief Prosecutor asked the country's Constitutional Court to ban Erdoğan's governing party.
July 2008: Party Escaped Ban
On 30 July 2008, Erdoğan's party escaped a ban, although judges did cut the party's public funding by 50%.
December 2008: Erdoğan Criticizes I Apologize Campaign
In December 2008, Erdoğan criticized the I Apologize campaign by Turkish intellectuals to recognize the Armenian genocide, stating that Turkey did not commit a crime and does not need to apologize.
2008: Similarity to Obama's logo
Erdoğan's logo was criticized because it was very similar to the logo that U.S. President Barack Obama used in the 2008 presidential election.
2008: Law Approved to Return Confiscated Properties to Non-Muslim Foundations
In 2008, the Turkish government approved a law to return properties confiscated in the past by the state to non-Muslim foundations during Erdoğan's time as Prime Minister.
2009: Erdoğan Accuses China of Genocide Against Uyghurs
In 2009, Erdoğan accused China of "genocide" against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
2009: Government Plan to End Turkey-Kurdistan Conflict Announced
In 2009, Prime Minister Erdoğan's government announced a plan to help end the Turkey–Kurdistan Workers' Party conflict, which intended to allow the Kurdish language to be used in broadcast media and political campaigns and restore Kurdish names to cities and towns. Erdoğan passed a partial amnesty to reduce penalties faced by PKK members who had surrendered.
2009: Increased Turk-Saudi trade volume
In 2009, Turk-Saudi trade volume reached US$ 5.5 billion.
2009: Decline in Turkish Public Debt
The Turkish public debt as a percentage of annual GDP declined from 74% in 2002 to 39% in 2009.
May 2010: Condemnation of Gaza flotilla raid
In May 2010, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan strongly condemned the Gaza flotilla raid, describing it as "state terrorism" and demanded an Israeli apology.
May 2010: Military agreement with Somalia
In May 2010, the Turkish and Somali governments signed a military training agreement. Turkish Airlines also became the first long-distance international commercial airline in two decades to resume flights to and from Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport.
2010: Erdoğan Suggests Israel Dominates World Media
In 2010, following the Gaza flotilla raid, Erdoğan repeated the suggestion of Israel dominating the world media, remarks characterized as antisemitic.
2010: Trade volume target
The goal for the year 2010 was US$ 10 billion in Turk-Saudi trade volume.
June 2011: AKP wins 2011 elections
In June 2011, Erdoğan's governing party, AKP, won 327 seats with 49.83% of the popular vote, marking his third consecutive general election victory. This made Erdoğan the only prime minister in Turkey's history to win three consecutive general elections. The Republican People's Party (CHP) secured 135 seats, the nationalist MHP obtained 53 seats, and Independents received 35 seats in June 2011.
August 2011: Davutoğlu's Last Meeting with Assad
On 9 August 2011, Ahmet Davutoğlu met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for seven hours, attempting to convince him to implement reforms amid the growing conflict and protests. This meeting marked the last visit by a European leader to Assad.
November 2011: Erdoğan Apologizes for Dersim Massacre
On November 23, 2011, during a televised meeting, Erdoğan apologized on behalf of the state for the Dersim massacre, where many Alevis and Zazas were killed.
2011: Support for Somalia during drought
During the drought of 2011, Erdoğan's government contributed over $201 million to humanitarian relief efforts in the impacted parts of Somalia. The Turkish government also re-opened its foreign embassy with the intention of more effectively assisting in the post-conflict development process.
2011: AKP Election Victory
In 2011, Erdoğan led the AKP to another election victory.
2011: Erdoğan Orders Demolition of Monument to Humanity
In 2011, Erdoğan ordered the tearing-down of the 33-meter-tall Monument to Humanity, a Turkish–Armenian friendship monument in Kars. He justified the removal by claiming the monument was too close to a tomb and illegally erected.
2011: Legal Reforms to Return Properties of Christian and Jewish Minorities
In 2011, Erdoğan's government made legal reforms to return properties of Christian and Jewish minorities which were seized by the Turkish government in the 1930s. The total value of the properties returned reached $2 billion (USD).
2011: Death of Mother Tenzile Erdoğan
In 2011, Tenzile Erdoğan, Erdoğan's mother, passed away.
2011: Erdoğan Deems Statue of Humanity a "Freak" and it is Demolished
In 2011, during a visit to Kars, Erdoğan called the Statue of Humanity a "freak," leading to its demolition months later.
2011: Increased Turkish Central Bank Reserves
In 2011, the Turkish Central Bank had $92.2 billion in reserves.
2011: Support for secularism in Egypt
In a 2011 interview, Erdoğan stated he supported secularism for Egypt, which sparked criticism from Islamic movements. Commentators suggested his alliance with the military junta during Egypt's transition to democracy may have favored an authoritarian government.
2011: Emergence of the term 'Erdoğanism'
Shortly after Erdoğan's 2011 general election victory, the term 'Erdoğanism' emerged. It was predominantly described as the AKP's liberal economic and conservative democratic ideals fused with Erdoğan's demagoguery and cult of personality.
2012: Cash-Flow into Turkish Economy
Between 2002 and 2012, the cash-flow into the Turkish economy caused a growth of 64% in real GDP and a 43% increase in GDP per capita. The ranking of the Turkish economy in terms of GDP moved slightly from 17 to 16 during this decade.
2012: Establishment of Human Rights and Equality Institutions
In 2012, the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey and the Ombudsman Institution were established during Erdoğan's time as Prime Minister.
2012: Peace Negotiations with PKK
In late 2012, Erdoğan's government began peace negotiations with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
February 2013: Comments on Zionism
In February 2013, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described Zionism as a "crime against humanity", comparing it to Islamophobia, antisemitism, and fascism. He later retracted the statement, clarifying his comments were directed at Israeli policies, especially regarding Gaza and settlements. The statement was criticized by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
August 2013: Condemnation of sit-in dispersals in Egypt
In August 2013, Erdoğan condemned the sit-in dispersals conducted by Egyptian police on August 14, 2013, at the Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda squares, where violent clashes led to numerous deaths.
2013: Widening of the Current Account Deficit
Between 2002 and 2012, a major consequence of the policies was the widening of the current account deficit from US$600 million to US$58 billion by 2013.
2013: Media censorship during the 2013 anti-government protests
During the 2013 anti-government protests, the mainstream media did not broadcast any news regarding the demonstrations for three days after they began. The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) controversially issued a fine to pro-opposition news channels.
2013: Criticism for politicization of the media after the 2013 protests
Erdoğan has been criticized for his politicization of the media, especially after the 2013 protests. The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) alleged that over 1,863 journalists lost their jobs due to their anti-government views in 12 years of AKP rule.
2013: Visited the Pınarhisar prison
In 2013, Erdoğan visited the Pınarhisar prison again for the first time in fourteen years.
2013: Corruption scandal implicates Erdoğan
In 2013, a US$100 billion corruption scandal led to the arrests of Erdoğan's close allies and implicated Erdoğan himself.
2013: Corruption Scandal
In 2013, a corruption scandal emerged, leading to a recording of a conversation between Erdoğan and his son Bilal, where Erdoğan allegedly instructed his family to 'nullify' all cash reserves. Subsequently, Erdoğan launched a media campaign to portray his family as frugal.
2013: Gezi Park protests
In 2013, the Gezi Park protests occurred against the perceived authoritarianism of Erdoğan and his policies. These protests started with a sit-in in Istanbul and grew after police used tear gas. Erdoğan's government initially apologized and called for a plebiscite, but later ordered a crackdown on the protesters.
2013: Peace Process with PKK Initiated
In 2013, the government of Erdoğan began a peace process between the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Turkish Government, mediated by parliamentarians of the Peoples' Democratic party (HDP).
2013: Government corruption scandal and accusations against Gülen
In late 2013, when Gülen withdrew support from the AKP government, a government corruption scandal broke out. Erdoğan accused Gülen of coordinating a "parallel state" within the judiciary in an attempt to topple him from power.
2013: Release of imprisoned military officers and journalists
When Gülen publicly withdrew support and openly attacked Erdoğan in late 2013, several imprisoned military officers and journalists were released, with the government admitting that the judicial proceedings were unfair.
March 2014: Government Blocks Twitter and YouTube
In late March 2014, Erdoğan's government blocked access to Twitter and YouTube after the release of a recording of a conversation between him and his son Bilal related to the 2013 corruption scandal.
April 2014: Accusations of damaging the judiciary's credibility
In April 2014, the President of the Constitutional Court, Haşim Kılıç, accused Erdoğan of damaging the credibility of the judiciary, labeling Erdoğan's attempts to increase political control over the courts as 'desperate'.
April 2014: Erdoğan's Office Issues Condolences for Armenian Mass Killings
On April 23, 2014, Erdoğan's office issued a statement in nine languages, offering condolences for the mass killings of Armenians and stating that the events of 1915 had inhumane consequences.
May 2014: Erdoğan's denial of dictatorship allegations
In May 2014, Erdoğan denounced allegations of dictatorship, stating that the opposition leader would not be able to roam the streets freely if he were a dictator.
July 2014: Criticism of Egyptian President el-Sisi
In July 2014, one year after the removal of Mohamed Morsi from office, Erdoğan described Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as an "illegitimate tyrant".
July 2014: Nomination as AKP's presidential candidate
On July 1, 2014, Erdoğan was named the AKP's presidential candidate in the Turkish presidential election.
August 2014: Inauguration as President of Turkey
On August 28, 2014, Erdoğan took the oath of office and became the 12th president of Turkey. On August 29, he administered the new Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's oath. He was criticized for openly stating that he would not maintain presidential neutrality.
September 2014: Government Allowed to Block Websites Without Court Order
In September 2014, Erdoğan signed a bill into law that allowed the Turkish government to block websites without a prior court order, tightening controls over the Internet.
September 2014: Dissolution of cases against suspects including Bilal Erdoğan
On September 1, 2014, the courts dissolved the cases of 96 suspects, which included Bilal Erdoğan.
October 2014: Cancellation of Republic Day reception
On 29 October 2014, Erdoğan was due to hold a Republic Day reception in the new palace. However, after most invited participants announced that they would boycott the event and a mining accident occurred, the reception was cancelled.
2014: Investigations Launched for Insulting the President
Between 2014 and 2019, 128,872 investigations were launched for insulting the president, and prosecutors opened 27,717 criminal cases.
2014: Criticism for disproportionate media attention during the 2014 presidential election
During his 2014 presidential election campaign, Erdoğan was criticized for receiving disproportionate media attention in comparison to his rivals. The British newspaper The Times commented that between 2 and 4 July, the state-owned media channel TRT gave 204 minutes of coverage to Erdoğan's campaign and less than a total of 3 minutes to both his rivals.
2014: Elected as President
In 2014, Erdoğan became the country's first directly elected president.
2014: Elected President of Turkey
In 2014, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became the president of Turkey.
2014: Turkey Blocks Access to Twitter
In 2014, the Turkish government temporarily blocked access to the social media platform Twitter.
2014: Passage of a law giving government greater control over judiciary
In early 2014, a new law was passed by parliament giving the government greater control over the judiciary, which sparked public protest throughout the country.
January 2015: Erdoğan denies wanting to become an Ottoman sultan
In January 2015, when pressed on the issue of wanting to become an Ottoman sultan, Erdoğan denied these claims and said that he would aim to be more like Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
February 2015: Teenager Charged for Insulting Erdoğan on Facebook
In February 2015, a 13-year-old was charged by a prosecutor for allegedly insulting Erdoğan on Facebook.
March 2015: Judge Orders Erdoğan to Pay Moral Indemnities
In March 2015, a judge ordered Erdoğan to pay 10,000 liras to Mehmet Aksoy for "moral indemnities" related to the demolition of the Statue of Humanity.
April 2015: Pope Francis Describes Atrocities as Genocide
In April 2015, Pope Francis described atrocities against Armenian civilians in 1915–1922 as "the first genocide of the 20th century", leading to Erdoğan recalling the Turkish ambassador from the Vatican.
December 2015: Threats against Turkish Kurds if AKP lost election
On December 20, 2015, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu threatened that if his party did not win the election, Turkish Kurds would endure a repeat of the era of the "white Toros".
2015: US Senators' concern over democracy in Turkey
In 2015, 74 US senators sent a letter to US Secretary of State, John Kerry, to state their concern over what they saw as deviations from the basic principles of democracy in Turkey and oppressions of Erdoğan over media.
2015: Endorsement of Ottoman term for university campuses
In 2015, Erdoğan endorsed the old Ottoman term külliye to refer to university campuses rather than the standard Turkish word kampüs.
2015: Opening of Mosque near Güneysu
In 2015, Erdoğan opened a vast mosque on a mountaintop near Güneysu village.
2015: Turkey Joins Intervention Against ISIS
In 2015, Turkey joined the international military intervention against the Islamic State. The Turkish Armed Forces' Operation Euphrates Shield aimed to conquer areas around Jarabulus and al-Bab from IS.
2015: End of Peace Process with PKK and Resumption of Conflict
In 2015, following AKP electoral defeat, the rise of a social democrat, pro-Kurdish rights opposition party, and the minor Ceylanpınar incident, Erdoğan decided the peace process with the PKK was over. He supported the revocation of parliamentary immunity of HDP parliamentarians, leading to a resumption of violent confrontation.
2015: Jewish Community Allowed to Publicly Celebrate Hanukkah
In 2015, the Jewish community were allowed to celebrate Hanukkah publicly for the first time in modern Turkish history, during Erdoğan's time as Prime Minister.
January 2016: Academics Criticizing Military Crackdown Arrested
In January 2016, more than a thousand academics signed a petition criticizing Turkey's military crackdown on ethnic Kurdish towns. Erdoğan accused the signatories of "terrorist propaganda" and called for action. Over 30 of the signatories were arrested, and nearly half were fired from their jobs.
March 2016: Seizure of Zaman newspaper
In March 2016, the Zaman newspaper was seized by President Erdoğan's government as they continued to press for court action against the remaining free press in Turkey.
March 2016: EU and Turkey Cooperation Deemed Existentially Important
On March 11, 2016, German minister of defence Ursula von der Leyen stated that the refugee crisis had made good cooperation between the EU and Turkey an "existentially important" issue and negotiations on Turkey's EU accession should be advanced.
April 2016: European Parliament progress report
In April 2016, rapporteur Kati Piri said that the overall pace of reforms in Turkey has not only slowed down but in some key areas, such as freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary, there has been a regression, which is particularly worrying.
May 2016: Former Miss Turkey Sentenced for Insulting the President
In May 2016, Merve Büyüksaraç, a former Miss Turkey model, was sentenced to more than a year in prison for allegedly insulting the president.
June 2016: Statements on destroying civil groups
On 22 June 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that he considered himself successful in "destroying" Turkish civil groups "working against the state".
June 2016: Council of Europe Warns About Democratic Institutions
On June 22, 2016, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe warned that "recent developments in Turkey pertaining to freedom of the media and of expression, erosion of the rule of law and the human rights violations in relation to anti-terrorism security operations in south-east Turkey have raised serious questions about the functioning of its democratic institutions".
July 2016: Arrests Following Coup Attempt
In the wake of the July 2016 coup attempt, the Erdoğan administration began rounding up tens of thousands of individuals from both within the government and the public sector, incarcerating them on charges of alleged "terrorism."
July 2016: Military Coup Attempt in Turkey
On 15 July 2016, a coup d'état was attempted by the military to remove Erdoğan from government, but the government managed to regain control by the next day.
July 2016: State of Emergency Declared
On July 20, 2016, President Erdoğan declared a state of emergency, citing the coup d'état attempt as justification. It was initially scheduled to last three months and was approved by the Turkish parliament.
August 2016: Journalists Rounded Up and Incarcerated
In August 2016, Erdoğan began rounding up and incarcerating journalists who had been publishing articles questioning corruption within his administration. The number of Turkish journalists jailed by Turkey exceeded that of any other country.
November 2016: Cumhuriyet Journalists Detained
In November 2016, Cumhuriyet journalists were detained following a long-standing crackdown on the newspaper. Reporters Without Borders subsequently labeled Erdoğan an "enemy of press freedom."
November 2016: Government Blocks Social Media and Internet Access
In November 2016, the Turkish government blocked access to social media throughout Turkey and sought to completely block Internet access for citizens in the southeast of the country. This was followed by the arrest or imprisonment of over 90,000 Turkish citizens after the 2016 coup attempt.
2016: Arrests and Removals Following Turkish Coup Attempt
Following the 2016 Turkish coup attempt, representatives and elected HDP members were systematically arrested, removed, and replaced in their offices.
2016: Waiter Arrested for Insulting Erdoğan
In 2016, a waiter was arrested for allegedly insulting Erdoğan by stating that he would not even serve tea to him if he came to the waiter's establishment.
2016: Aftermath of 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt
In the aftermath of the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, a groundswell of national unity and consensus emerged. Erdoğan used this consensus to remove Gulen's followers from the bureaucracy, curtail their role in NGOs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Turkish military. Relations with Europe soured, and Erdoğan developed relationships with Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
2016: EU Membership Talks Made Little Progress
Since 2016, talks for Turkey's EU membership made little progress.
March 2017: Call for Demographic Warfare
In March 2017, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated to the Turks in Europe, "Make not three, but five children. Because you are the future of Europe. That will be the best response to the injustices against you."
April 2017: Legislation Silencing Opposition Passed
In April 2017, Erdoğan successfully sponsored legislation making it effectively illegal for the Turkish legislative branch to investigate his executive branch of government. At the time of the legislation's passing, United States President Donald Trump called Erdoğan to congratulate him for his "recent referendum victory".
April 2017: Turkey Blocks Access to Wikipedia
In April 2017, Turkey blocked all access to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia due to a content dispute.
April 2017: Constitutional referendum
In April 2017, voters in Turkey approved a set of 18 amendments to the Constitution of Turkey, including the replacement of the existing parliamentary system with a presidential system.
April 2017: Wikipedia Blocked in Turkey
On April 29, 2017, Erdoğan's administration began an internal Internet block of all of the Wikipedia online encyclopedia site via Turkey's domestic Internet filtering system. Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales responded, "Access to information is a fundamental human right."
June 2017: Erdoğan Criticizes Isolation of Qatar
In June 2017, Erdoğan condemned the isolation of Qatar as "inhumane and against Islamic values," stating that "victimising Qatar through smear campaigns serves no purpose."
July 2017: Putin Offers S-400 to Turkey
In July 2017, Putin offered the S-400 air defense system to Turkey, leading to warnings from the United States regarding Turkey's F-35 purchase and integration into the NATO air defense net.
September 2017: Erdoğan Condemns Persecution of Muslims in Myanmar
In September 2017, Erdoğan condemned the persecution of Muslims in Myanmar and accused Myanmar of "genocide" against the Muslim minority.
October 2017: Venezuelan President Maduro Visits Turkey
In October 2017, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro visited Turkey, marking the first official visit between the two countries at the presidential level.
December 2017: Erdoğan Warns Trump on Jerusalem Recognition
In December 2017, President Erdoğan warned Donald Trump after the U.S. President recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, stating that "Jerusalem is a red line for Muslims." He also called Israel a "terrorist state".
2017: Constitutional changes
Following the approval of constitutional changes in a referendum held in 2017, the elected President will be both the head of state and head of government of Turkey, taking over the latter role from the to-be-abolished office of the Prime Minister.
2017: Centralization of AFAD under Erdoğan's control
In 2017, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) was centralized under Erdoğan's control due to a constitutional change. AFAD faced intense scrutiny for its slow and disorganized response to disasters.
2017: Continuation of Violent Confrontation
Violent confrontation continued in 2017, mainly in the South East of Turkey, resulting in higher death tolls and several external operations on the part of the Turkish military.
January 2018: Operation Olive Branch in Afrin
In January 2018, the Turkish military, along with Syrian National Army and Sham Legion allies, launched Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Northern Syria, targeting the Kurdish armed group YPG.
February 2018: Support of Macedonia's Position Expressed
In February 2018, President Erdoğan expressed Turkish support of the Republic of Macedonia's position during negotiations over the Macedonia naming dispute, stating that Greece's position is wrong.
March 2018: Ongoing Purges in Turkey
By March 2018, the state of emergency declared in July 2016 was continuously extended amidst ongoing purges in Turkey. More than 50,000 people had been arrested and over 160,000 fired from their jobs.
March 2018: Criticism of Kosovan Prime Minister
In March 2018, President Erdoğan criticized the Kosovan Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj for dismissing his Interior Minister and Intelligence Chief for failing to inform him of an unauthorized and illegal secret operation conducted by the National Intelligence Organization of Turkey on Kosovo's territory.
April 2018: Candidacy declaration for People's Alliance
On April 27, 2018, Erdoğan declared his candidacy for the People's Alliance (Turkish: Cumhur İttifakı), with support from the MHP.
May 2018: Erdoğan's State Visit to the UK
In May 2018, British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed Erdoğan to the United Kingdom for a three-day state visit. During the visit, Erdoğan emphasized the strong alliance, strategic partnership, and friendship between Turkey and the United Kingdom.
July 2018: Thousands of Officials Sacked
On July 8, 2018, Erdoğan sacked 18,000 officials for alleged ties to US based cleric Fethullah Gülen, shortly before renewing his term as an executive president. 9000 of those removed were police officers and 5000 were from the armed forces, with hundreds of academics.
August 2018: US Sanctions Turkish Ministers
In August 2018, the U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned two senior Turkish government ministers involved in the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson. Erdoğan responded by stating that the U.S. behavior would force Turkey to seek new friends and allies.
December 2018: Erdoğan Visits Venezuela
In December 2018, Erdoğan visited Venezuela for the first time, expressing his desire to build strong relations between the two countries.
2018: Economic Crisis Begins
Starting in 2018, factors such as Erdoğan's decreasing the independence of the Central Bank, pushing unorthodox monetary policy, excessive current account deficit and foreign-currency debt, and increasing authoritarianism, led to an economic crisis with large depreciation of the Turkish lira and very high inflation.
2018: Turkish presidential election
The 2018 Turkish presidential election took place as part of the 2018 general election, alongside parliamentary elections on the same day.
April 2019: Erdoğan Claims West Bank Belongs to Palestinians
In April 2019, Erdoğan asserted that the West Bank belongs to Palestinians, responding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement about annexing Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
October 2019: Turkish Offensive into North-Eastern Syria
In October 2019, after the United States withdrew troops from the border, Turkey proceeded to attack the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, leading to criticism from NATO and European Union countries. Erdoğan also filed a criminal complaint against French magazine Le Point.
2019: Investigations Launched for Insulting the President
Between 2014 and 2019, 128,872 investigations were launched for insulting the president, and prosecutors opened 27,717 criminal cases.
2019: Erdoğan Condemns Actions of Juan Guaidó
Following the 2019 Venezuelan uprising attempt, Erdoğan condemned the actions of lawmaker Juan Guaidó, asserting that only democratic elections can determine how a country is governed.
2019: Erdoğan's Speeches on Housing Issues
In 2019, Erdoğan gave speeches in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay where he boasted about "solving" housing issues for thousands through "amnesties" that legalized substandard buildings for fines.
2019: Erdoğan Recites Ziya Gökalp's Soldier's Prayer Poem
In 2019, Erdoğan publicly recited Ziya Gökalp's Soldier's Prayer poem, signaling his affinity with Gökalp's pre-1923 ideal of a modern, leader-led Islamic-Turkish state.
2019: Turkish Foreign Ministry Condemns China's Treatment of Uyghurs
In 2019, the Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned China's "reintroduction of concentration camps in the 21st century" regarding the Uyghurs. Later that year, Erdoğan softened his stance during a visit to China.
2019: AKP loses control of Istanbul and Ankara
In the 2019 local elections, the ruling party AKP lost control of Istanbul and Ankara for the first time in 25 years. It has been widely attributed to Erdoğan's mismanagement of the Turkish economic crisis, rising authoritarianism as well as the alleged government inaction on the Syrian refugee crisis.
January 2020: Ban on Wikipedia Lifted
On January 15, 2020, the Turkish government lifted a two-and-a-half-year ban on Wikipedia, restoring access to the online encyclopedia after Turkey's top court ruled that blocking Wikipedia was unconstitutional.
July 2020: Reclassification of Hagia Sophia as a mosque
In July 2020, after the Council of State annulled the Cabinet's 1934 decision, Erdoğan ordered the reclassification of the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.
July 2020: New Measures to Control Social Media Announced
On July 1, 2020, Erdoğan announced that the government would introduce new measures and regulations to control or shut down social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, and Netflix. Each company would be required to appoint an official representative in the country to respond to legal concerns.
August 2020: Erdoğan's speech on conquest and justice
In August 2020, Erdoğan gave a speech asserting that conquest in their civilization is about establishing justice commanded by Allah and that Turkey will take what is its right in the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Black Sea.
August 2020: Transfer of Chora Church Administration
In August 2020, Erdoğan signed the order that transferred the administration of the Chora Church to the Directorate of Religious Affairs to open it for worship as a mosque.
September 2020: Support for Azerbaijan Declared
In September 2020, Erdoğan declared his government's support for Azerbaijan following a conflict with Armenian forces over Nagorno-Karabakh and dismissed demands for a ceasefire.
September 2020: Biden Demands Erdoğan Stay Out of Nagorno-Karabakh War
In September 2020, Joe Biden demanded that Erdoğan "stay out" of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War between Azerbaijan and Armenia, in which Turkey supported the Azeris.
October 2020: Erdoğan's statement on Jerusalem
In October 2020, Erdoğan made a statement before the Grand National Assembly that "Jerusalem is ours", referring to the period of Ottoman rule over the city.
2020: Homosexuality Condemned for Bringing Illness
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Turkey's top Muslim scholar, Ali Erbaş, condemned homosexuality for "bringing illness," insinuating it caused the pandemic; Recep Tayyip Erdoğan backed Erbaş.
April 2021: Biden Formally Recognizes Armenian Genocide
In April 2021, US President Joe Biden formally recognized the Armenian genocide. Erdoğan condemned the move as "groundless", "unfair" and "destructive", and accused Biden of bowing to "pressure from radical Armenian groups and anti-Turkish circles".
2021: Erdoğan Accuses Israel of Terrorism Against Palestinians
In 2021, Erdoğan accused Israel of "terrorism" against the Palestinians and said, "they kill children who are five or six years old. They only are satisfied by sucking their blood", which the Anti-Defamation League and others cited as an instance of blood libel.
2021: Decline in Freedom of the Press
Reporters Without Borders reported a rank of 153 out of 179 countries on its Press Freedom Index for Turkey in 2021 during Erdoğan's later terms.
March 2022: Israeli President Herzog Visits Turkey
In March 2022, Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Turkey and met with Erdoğan, marking a step towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
June 2022: Campaign launch controversy
In the 2023 presidential election, Erdoğan's candidacy was contested due to his campaign launch in June 2022, with the opposition arguing that a third term would violate the constitution.
July 2022: Turkey Brokers Grain Export Deal Between Russia and Ukraine
On 22 July 2022, Turkey, along with the United Nations, brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine to clear the way for the export of grain from Ukrainian ports, addressing the 2022 food crisis.
2022: Decrease in PKK-Turkey Conflict Intensity
As of 2022, the intensity of the PKK-Turkey conflict did decrease in recent years, even though six thousand additional deaths occurred in Turkey alone for 2015–2022.
2022: Turkey as Energy Hub
In 2022, Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin planned for Turkey to become an energy hub for Europe through the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines.
2022: Turkey's Stance on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, while Turkey closed the Bosphorus to Russian naval reinforcements, enforced United Nations sanctions, and supplied Ukraine with military equipment such as Bayraktar TB2 drones and BMC Kirpi vehicles, it continued dialogue with Vladimir Putin and maintained its stance that Russia must return Crimea to Ukraine.
February 2023: Catastrophic earthquake in Turkey and Syria
In February 2023, a catastrophic earthquake struck south-central Turkey and northwestern Syria, resulting in over 50,000 deaths in Turkey during Erdoğan's administration. Collapsed buildings, many constructed under lax regulations, exacerbated the high death toll.
March 2023: Erdogan Confirmed Support for Finnish NATO Membership
In March 2023, the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö visited Erdogan. During the visit, Erdogan confirmed that he supported Finnish NATO membership and declared that the Turkish parliament would confirm Finnish membership before the Turkish Presidential elections in May 2023.
May 2023: Victory in presidential election runoff
Erdoğan won the second round of the 2023 presidential election on 28 May 2023, receiving 52.18% of the vote, defeating Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
May 2023: Turkish Presidential Elections
In May 2023, the Turkish Presidential elections were held.
June 2023: Scheduled general elections
Early general elections are currently scheduled for June 2023.
September 2023: EU-Turkey Relations
In September 2023, Erdoğan announced that the European Union was well into a rupture in its relations with Turkey and that they would part ways during Turkey's European Union membership process.
September 2023: Support for Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
In September 2023, as Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive to recapture the Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh, Erdoğan stated at the United Nations General Assembly that Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory and supported Azerbaijan's steps to defend its territorial integrity.
October 2023: Erdoğan Cancels Attendance at EPC Meeting
In October 2023, Erdoğan canceled his attendance at the third European Political Community (EPC) meeting.
October 2023: Erdoğan Condemns Israeli Attacks in Gaza
In October 2023, Erdoğan condemned Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war, calling them a violation of human rights and likening Israel's response to Hamas's attack as a disproportionate "massacre."
October 2023: Inauguration of the first government-backed church
In October 2023, the first church built with government backing in Turkey's 100-year history as a post-Ottoman state was inaugurated.
October 2023: Sweden's NATO Membership Bid Approved
On 23 October 2023, Erdoğan approved Sweden's pending NATO membership bid and sent the accession protocol to the Turkish Parliament for ratification.
November 2023: Erdoğan Accuses Israel of Genocide
On 15 November 2023, Erdoğan condemned Israel as a "terrorist state" and accused it of committing genocide against the Palestinians.
November 2023: Parliament Defers Decision on Sweden's NATO Membership
On November 16, 2023, Turkey's parliamentary committee discussed the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership, but a decision was deferred, with a request for Sweden to produce a written roadmap to implement its anti-terrorism commitments.
December 2023: Parliament Confirms Swedish NATO Membership Application
On 26 December 2023, the Turkish parliament's foreign relations committee confirmed the Swedish NATO membership application and sent the process to the Turkish Parliament's plenary session.
2023: Trials for Comparing Erdogan to Gollum
Between 2016 and 2023 there were trials for insulting the president for having compared Erdogan to Gollum, a fictional character of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
2023: Erdoğan Blames LGBTQ+ People for Undermining Family Values
In 2023, Erdoğan blamed LGBTQ+ people for "undermining family values" in Turkey and called his political opponents "gays" in a derogatory manner, criticized as a tactic to distract from economic failings and rally his base.
2023: Erdoğan Speaks Against LGBT People
Starting from 2023, Erdoğan began openly speaking against LGBT people, openly saying that his Coalition "are against the LGBT", and accusing the Turkish opposition of being LGBT.
January 2024: Erdogan Formally Approved Swedish NATO Membership
On 25 January 2024, Erdoğan formally signed and approved the Turkish parliament's decision to ratify Swedish NATO membership.
March 2024: Declaration of retirement
On 8 March 2024, Erdoğan declared that he would retire once his presidential term ended in 2028.
June 2025: Erdoğan Condemns Israeli Strikes on Iran
In June 2025, Erdoğan condemned Israeli strikes on Iran, describing them as acts of "state terrorism."
September 2025: Trump's remarks about Erdoğan during a bilateral visit
On September 25, 2025, during a bilateral visit, Erdoğan was described by US President Donald Trump as "highly opinionated" and "a tough one", and remarked that Erdoğan "knows about rigged elections better than anybody."
2025: Oversaw the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu
In 2025, Erdoğan oversaw the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his subsequent disqualification from the upcoming 2028 presidential election, for which he was considered the opposition front-runner, leading to ongoing widespread protests.
2028: Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu disqualification from presidential election
In 2028, the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his subsequent disqualification from the presidential election, for which he was considered the opposition front-runner, led to ongoing widespread protests.
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