Mesut Özil Joins Leadership of Erdogan's AKP Party

The former German soccer star, known for his close ties to Turkey's president, has been named to the party's executive board.

Mesut Özil, former German national soccer player, has been appointed to the executive board of Turkey's ruling AKP party led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The announcement was made during the AKP's party congress in Ankara, where Erdogan was re-elected as party leader with unanimous support.
Özil has long been a public supporter of Erdogan, with their relationship drawing significant attention, including a controversial photo in 2018 and Erdogan serving as Özil's wedding witness.
The AKP's executive board, known as MKYK, consists of 75 members, but its practical influence is limited due to Turkey's presidential system established in 2017, which grants Erdogan extensive powers.
This move marks Özil's first significant step into Turkish politics, further solidifying his alignment with Erdogan's leadership.