Interior Ministers of the AK Party Era

Interior Ministers of the AK Party Era: A Chronological Overview

Since the AK Party came to power in 2002, the Ministry of Interior has been led by influential figures who shaped Turkey’s security and domestic policies. Notable among them is Süleyman Soylu, who served for 2,468 days, closely followed by the party’s first Interior Minister, Abdülkadir Aksu, with 2,446 days in office.

List of Interior Ministers (2002 – Present)

• Abdülkadir Aksu (Nov 18, 2002 – May 8, 2007): Served as the first Interior Minister of the AK Party era.
• Osman Güneş (May 8, 2007 – Aug 29, 2007): An independent minister appointed temporarily due to the election period.
• Beşir Atalay (Aug 29, 2007 – March 8, 2011): Known for his role during the “Democratic Initiative” processes.
• Osman Güneş (March 8, 2011 – July 6, 2011): Served a second temporary term in the interim election government.
• İdris Naim Şahin (July 6, 2011 – Jan 24, 2013): Noted for his firm stance and rhetoric in counter-terrorism.
• Muammer Güler (Jan 24, 2013 – Dec 25, 2013): Appointed after serving as the Governor of Istanbul; resigned following the December 17-25 period.
• Efkan Ala (Dec 25, 2013 – March 7, 2015): Served during critical periods leading up to the 2016 coup attempt.
• Sebahattin Öztürk (March 7, 2015 – Aug 28, 2015): A bureaucrat minister appointed for the interim election government.
• Selami Altınok (Aug 28, 2015 – Nov 24, 2015): Served during the transitional election period.
• Efkan Ala (Nov 24, 2015 – Aug 31, 2016): Returned for a second term before being succeeded by Süleyman Soylu.
• Süleyman Soylu (Aug 31, 2016 – June 4, 2023): One of the longest-serving ministers; played a pivotal role in counter-terrorism and migration policies.
• Ali Yerlikaya (June 4, 2023 – Feb 11, 2026): Appointed from the Governorship of Istanbul; gained prominence for operations against organized crime.
• Mustafa Çiftçi (Feb 11, 2026 – Present): Appointed from the Governorship of Erzurum and is currently in office.

For more official updates and announcements, you can visit the official website of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Interior.