The congress was held in the ASKI Sport Hall in the capital city of Ankara.

The date of 3 October 2009 was set due to the AKP's usual timetable of holding its conventions in the Autumn every three years.

During his speech, it was observed that Erdoğan did not read out a pre-written script containing criticism of the Kurdish nationalist Democratic Society Party (DTP).

[1] In a propaganda film featuring Erdoğan's overseas trips as Prime Minister, the crowd only applauded footage that showed US President Barack Obama.

Both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko sent messages of support to the congress.