President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered an address to tens of thousands of his supporters who came together to attend a Justice and Development (AK) Party election rally in Istanbul's Yenikapi district on Sunday.
Addressing the rally one week before the elections in Turkey, President Erdogan asked AK Party supporters, "Are we ready to roar for unity, brotherhood and a powerful Turkey on 24th of June?"
The Turkish president highlighted progress made in Istanbul, making a comparison of living standards during his predecessor CHP's (The main opposition Republican People's Party )administration in the 1990s and the AK Party's tenure 2000 onwards
Erdogan also dismissed allegations of corruption against his government, pointing out the economic achievements Turkey has made including the payment of the country's IMF debt and accumulation of foreign reserves.
Announcing his election campaign promises, Erdogan also pledged to "once again make Istanbul a center of culture and arts," and added that Istanbul's Ataturk Airport will be turned into a national garden once construction of Istanbul's third airport is complete and it comes into service.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also addressed the rally and underlined AK Party’s services to Turkey in the last 15 years. “What we have done is a guarantor of what we will do."
Turkey’s former Premier Tansu Ciller also attended the rally and said, “Everybody says something but the nation will have the final say. I am here today with only my national conscience.”
Tens of thousands of people have attended a rally in Istanbul's Yenikapi square to support Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party. The rally was held one week before Turkey's snap general election on June 24.
