Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1994: Elected Mayor of Istanbul

In 1994, Erdoğan was elected mayor of Istanbul.

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: AKP won 34% of the vote in the general elections

In 2002, the AKP won 34% of the vote in the general elections.

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: 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.

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.

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.

2007: AKP Election Victory

In 2007, Erdoğan led the AKP to another election victory.

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.

2010: Record Low for Turkey's Sovereign Debt

In 2010, five-year credit default swaps for Turkey's sovereign debt were trading at a record low of 1.17%, below those of nine EU member countries and Russia.

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.

2011: AKP Election Victory

In 2011, Erdoğan led the AKP to another election victory.

2011: Increased Turkish Central Bank Reserves

In 2011, the Turkish Central Bank had $92.2 billion in reserves.

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: Turkey's Debt Reduced

In 2012, Turkey's debt to the IMF was reduced to $0.9 billion. Erdoğan decided not to sign a new deal and announced that the IMF could borrow from Turkey.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

March 2022: Turkey Hosts Trilateral Meeting with Ukraine and Russia

On 10 March 2022, Turkey hosted a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, marking the first high-level talks since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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.

August 2022: Turkey and Israel Restore Diplomatic Relations

In August 2022, Turkey and Israel agreed to restore full diplomatic relations, signaling a significant improvement in their relationship.

September 2022: Prisoner Exchange Between Russia and Ukraine Mediated by Turkey

On 21 September 2022, a record-high of 215 Ukrainian soldiers were released in a prisoner exchange with Russia after mediation by Turkish President Erdoğan. The freed captives stay in Turkey until the war is over.

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.

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.

February 2025: Turkey Offers to Host Talks Between Russia, Ukraine, and the USA

On 18 February 2025, Erdoğan proposed Turkey as the "ideal host for possible talks between Russia, Ukraine and the USA," highlighting Turkey's reputation as a "reliable mediator" for both nations.