Davutoğlu sends message on merger with DEVA: 'Doors are not closed'

Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu made statements regarding the possibility of his party merging with the DEVA Party. 

Speaking to Nergis Demirkaya from Gazete Duvar, Davutoğlu indicated that the merger process could still be possible, saying, "The doors are not closed."

EVERYONE NEEDS TO MAKE SACRIFICES

Reminding that they have formed a joint parliamentary group with the Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi) under the roof of the Parliament, Davutoğlu stated that they would not make any merger decisions without consulting that party. Pointing to the danger of polarization and atomization in Turkish politics, Davutoğlu spoke as follows:

"I see two dangers in Turkish politics: one is polarization, the other is atomization. If there are many parties on the same axis and they cannot come together, this is a problem; it contributes to polarization. If citizens feel an alternative cannot be formed here, they say, 'I will continue with my old party.' From the very beginning, we have shown every kind of compromise. If you say, 'Everything should be mine, the chairman should be from us, and the party's name should be ours,' it is difficult to make progress. At the moment, the doors are not closed. This is not just about DEVA. We are also in talks with the Felicity Party and the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi). We need to eliminate this fragmentation and create an alternative that advocates for truly clean politics, which we could call nationalist-conservative. But everyone needs to make sacrifices on this issue."

Not giving a clear answer to allegations that he conditioned the merger process with the DEVA Party on his own presidential candidacy, Davutoğlu emphasized that they would act in coordination with the Felicity Party on this matter and continued his words as follows: 

"No one should think that someone who gave up the prime ministry they held for the sake of the country's interests, so that the AK Party would not break apart or fall apart, is now an obstacle over an imaginary presidency. But if two parties are going to merge—if the issue is the merger of the bases and institutions of these parties rather than just individuals coming together—when you say both 'the chairman should be from us' and 'the merger should be in our party,' that is what causes the obstacle. I have shown an alternative solution path and announced it to the public. Our proposals are always on the table. DEVA is now saying, 'Let's form a group.' We already have a group. We will not hold group negotiations with anyone else without reaching a consensus with the Felicity Party."

News Source: 12punto