CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (CEC)

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) is the highest executive body of the Party and is composed of the Party chairman, deputy Party chairmen, the general secretary and the parliamentary group president and deputy group presidents.

CEC members other than the Party chairman and Parliamentary deputy group presidents are appointed by the Party chairman from among CDAC members.

Party chairman is the president of the CEC. In the absence of the Party chairman, deputy Party chairman in the line of protocol shall preside over the Committee.

CEC members may be replaced by the Party chairman, in part or in full, or may be replaced by a vote of confidence of the CDAC. The vote of two-thirds of Committee members is necessary for a vote of no confidence. A new member shall be determined to fill a position that has become vacant upon resignation or dismissal of another member.

CEC shall meet at least once a week. The quorum for meetings is the majority of its members, and decisions shall be taken with a simple majority of members, except in special cases as described in the Charter.

Members of the CEC may work together with as many assistants or specialists as may be required by the scope and nature of the activity to which they have been assigned. Assistants and experts shall be appointed by proposal of the concerned CEC member and with the approval of the Party chairman, from among Parliamentary group members who have not been assigned an administrative role through Party elections, or other individuals may be appointed. Assistants and experts may participate, but without voting rights, in CEC meetings to which they are invited. CDAC members and presidents of various divisions in the organization shall be notified of appointments and assignments.

The CEC is established:

·         to ensure the implementation of the decisions taken at the General Assembly and by the CDAC, as well as instructions set forth, and to prepare the agenda of the CDAC;

·         to carry out organization-wide training programs to provide an effective working tempo for Party members and all enterprises, organizations and units at every level, to implement decisions and take necessary action, to ensure necessary coordination;

·         to ensure contact between the Party’s parliamentary group, headquarters and all ranks of the organization;

·         to regulate, develop and maintain the Party’s relations with the government, other parties and various governmental, non-governmental and international organizations;

·         to determine the Party’s position on developments and present these to the Party chairman;

·         to announce by circular and through members concerned all CDAC decisions that must be communicated to the Organization, and to follow up on the requirements of the notification;

·         to organize general assemblies according to a schedule determined in advance in line with the Party Charter and decisions of the CDAC;

·         to prepare a report revealing the views of the CEC on matters that are to be decided upon by the CDAC according to the Charter and to bring this report on the agenda of the CDAC;

·         to deliver to the CDAC for approval the annual report, budget, finalized accounts and balance sheets for presentation at the General Assembly;

·         in any imperative situation, with the exception of matters regarding exclusive authority and provided that this will be presented during the first meeting of the CDAC, to take all necessary measures and implement the same, to exercise all authority invested in it and to carry out all assignments given to the Committee under the Charter.

Deputy presidents and their roles are as follows:

1- Deputy Chairman in charge of Political and Legal Affairs

2- Deputy Chairman in charge of the Organization

3- Deputy Chairman in charge of Electoral Affairs

4- Deputy Chairman in charge of Publicity and the Media

5- Deputy Chairman in charge of Foreign Relations and Foreign Representative Offices

6- Deputy Chairman in charge of Social Affairs

7- Deputy Chairman in charge of Local Administrations

8- Deputy Chairman in charge of Economic Affairs

9- Deputy Chairman in charge of Public Relations

10- Deputy Chairman in charge of Financial and Administrative Affairs

11- Deputy Chairman in charge of Research and Development

12- Secretary General

1) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF POLITICAL AND LEGAL AFFAIRS: Devises Party strategies and policies in line with the principles specified in the Party’s Program and Charter, and conveys them to the public in the form of political expressions. Performs strategic studies based on scientific research surveys in the course of the development of Party policies. Coordinates meetings of Party spokesmen and ensures that public statements comply with the Party’s policies and expressions.

2) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF THE ORGANIZATION: Provides for the organization of the Party in counties, districts, towns and villages in line with the principles stated in the Charter and Program of the Party. Provides for the training of the staff on their duties in the organization in the framework of the Charter and the Program of the Party. Prepares the syllabus and organizes programs for the training of the staff of Party organs and members on general politics, political ethics and party policies. Lays the groundwork for the healthy functioning of the inter-party democratic race by promoting democratic culture and consciousness. Organizes general evaluation meetings that are to be attended by personnel at all levels of the organization.

3) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF ELECTORAL AFFAIRS: Carries out election-directed activities. Ensures that the organization is ready for an election at any time. Plans and programs election campaigns and monitors their implementation. Engages in activities directed at determining candidates in line with the relevant plan. Performs activities related to the Higher Election Board and, whenever necessary, conveys the Party’s objections to the Board. Follows the legislation and ensures that the organization is informed of them. In coordination with the Chairmanship in charge of Organization, ensures the assigning and appointment of election supervisors all over Turkey. Prepares the election budget in coordination with the Deputy Chairman in charge of Financial Affairs. Ensures the training of election supervisors and Election Coordination Center employees.

4) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF PUBLICITY AND THE MEDIA: Prepares leaflets and publications necessary for the promotion of the Party on national and international platforms. Announces Party policies and government action, coordinates relations with the media and monitors and compiles national and local media materials about the Party.

5) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES: In accordance with the principles stated in the Party Program, manages the foreign relations of the Party and provides for the coordination between various institutions and organizations that are parts of the foreign policy-making process. In this framework, informs the government, the party group, local party bodies and the public about ongoing and planned policies. Establishes dialogue with other political parties, in the first instance with EU member countries, in neighboring countries and in countries having significant roles in regional and global policies; establishing and promoting bilateral or multilateral relations with them. Conducts lobbying activities to introduce Turkey and the Party and to improve good impressions of both abroad. Provides the public with information about the foreign policies of the Party via the foreign and domestic press, and creates interflow of information between the Party and the public. Through promoting the atmosphere of cooperation and the mutual dialogue with civil society organizations, universities and other associations and institutes on the formation of the foreign policy opinions of the Party, creates the opportunity of evaluating their contributions in the decision-making process. Establishes foreign representation offices of the Justice and Development Party and/or forms organizational structures abroad.

6) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS: Prepares projects related to social issues in line with the principles of the Program and Charter of the Party as well as the concept of “social state” as set forth in the Constitution. Develops policies and organizes activities related to several aspects of social life such as education, culture and the arts, health, social security, employment, women, family, social services, youth and sports. Promotes activities and devises projects aimed at preventing poverty and corruption, establishes contacts and engages in cooperative efforts with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) related to social issues and acts as a bridge for dialogue between the Party and such NGOs.

7) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS: Monitors and assists in all efforts of mayors, municipal council members and provincial assembly members. Ensures the integration and the coordination of municipalities within and in their relation to the Party organization, conducting their training activities. Monitors the activities of the chairmen of provincial local administrations in our organizations. Examines their complaints and problems, reaches a conclusion and proposes solutions. Prepares data for local elections, carries out groundwork and conducts interviews in coordination with the Chairmanship in Charge of Electoral Affairs. Carries out the acceptance procedures of the mayors, municipal council members and provincial assembly members joining our Party, determines the points to be amended in the Local Administrations Act, carries out studies regarding draft bills on behalf of our Party. Conducts studies in coordination with civil society organizations related to local administrations.

8) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF THE ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: Monitors economic developments. In this context, prepares and evaluates reports, research, studies and similar documents originating from Party and government bodies or from local and foreign institutions and organizations about the present and future prospects of the Turkish and world economies. Shares the results with the Party Chairman, the Party Administration, the Parliamentary Group and related commissions. Contributes to determining the Party’s economic policies. Periodically presents economic data to the Central Executive Committee.

9) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS: Ensures communication between the Party and individuals, social groups, governmental institutions and NGOs. Establishes periodic contacts to ensure that this communication is long-lasting and permanent. Runs AK Party Communications Center (AKİM).

10) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS: Supervises all financial affairs, expenses and revenues of the headquarters in line with appropriate accounting principles; executes financial contracts in accordance with customary practice and relevant regulations. Prepares the organization’s yearly budget and balance sheets, profit and loss statements and finalized accounts and submits them to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) for presentation to the Central Decision-Making and Administrative Committee (CDAC). Ensures the timely preparation of budget accounts and their delivery to the related divisions.

11) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN IN CHARGE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Carries out strategic planning to promote the principles specified in the Party Program and Charter, transforms them into feasible policies, conducts public opinion polls and prepares questionnaires. Builds a Party image, creates think-tanks and organizes Party training activities.

12) SECRETARY-GENERAL: Keeps minutes of the meetings of the CDAC and the CEC, records decisions, has them appropriately signed and follows up on their implementation. Is responsible for all types of paperwork and correspondence of the headquarters and for drawing up and monitoring the agendas of the CDAC and CEC. Represents the Party, in person or by proxy, at all judicial platforms, be it as plaintiff or defendant, at all private or official offices, institutions or organizations, and in all relations with private or official entities. The Office of the Secretary-General is the Party’s correspondence and contact unit. All official and intra-party correspondences of the Party are conducted under the surveillance and supervision of the Secretary- General by the mediation of the Unit of the Secretary-General. Is responsible for keeping an extensive archive.