Two Assembly Members Who Resigned from CHP Joined the AK Party

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır attended the AK Party Consultative Assembly Meeting following a series of contacts in Zonguldak. As part of the program, Kacır visited tradesmen and citizens in the Kilimli district, where he explained his party's 25-year political vision and Turkey's recent technological advancements. One of the most striking moments of the meeting was the official joining of two Provincial General Assembly members to the AK Party, who had recently resigned from the CHP. The membership badges of both individuals were personally pinned by Minister Kacır. This event was considered a significant development in terms of party dynamics in local politics.

In his speech, Kacır claimed that during their quarter-century in power, their government took revolutionary steps in Turkey's production and export sectors. Stating that export figures, which remained at 36 billion dollars in the previous period, have now reached 278 billion dollars, he emphasized the critical role of this increase in the country's economic growth. He expressed that they have shed the position of being an exporter of low-tech products and have become a country that produces value-added and high-tech goods. The Minister of Industry argued that this success was not a coincidence, but the result of steadily implemented policies under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He stated that Turkey has now transformed into a globally respected production base.

The localization and nationalization initiative in the defense industry was also one of the main topics of Minister Kacır's speech. Stating that Turkey has crossed a critical threshold by raising its domestic production rate in defense technologies from the 20 percents to over the 80 percents, Kacır made comparisons with European countries in this field. He pointed out that even developed European states such as Germany and France are still 80 percent dependent on foreign sources in their defense industries. He noted that this issue, which was also discussed at recent NATO meetings, further strengthens Turkey in the international arena. Kacır claimed that the only rising power in the defense industry in the world is Turkey under Erdoğan's leadership.

Emphasizing that all these defense and technology achievements were gained despite the covert and overt embargoes imposed on the country, Kacır stated that the process was not easy at all. He expressed that Turkey, which has been fighting against terrorism for about 40 years, faced difficulties due to the attitudes of some countries considered allies. He explained that situations where critical defense systems, whose payments were made, were not delivered, pushed the country to develop its own technology. He said that Turkey is now the end-to-end master of technology in a wide range of fields, from aviation to naval platforms, from land vehicles to cyber and satellite systems. He stated that these obstructions and embargoes have further matured and strengthened the Turkish nation.

Finally, Kacır criticized the opposition parties, drawing attention to their lack of vision and accomplishments. He stated that Turkey has much greater goals on the world stage and that they are on a march that will not be abandoned halfway. He emphasized that preserving political independence comes through economic independence, and economic independence comes through technological independence, stating that they will resolutely continue towards these goals. Providing morale and motivation to the party members after the visit and the meeting, the Minister gave the message that similar projects will continue without slowing down in the upcoming period. He completed his speech by stating that they will continue on their way with great goals for the future.