Resignations continue in the New Welfare Party: 6 mayors join the AKP
In the March 31, 2024 local elections, the New Welfare Party (YRP) won mayoralties in 2 provinces, 33 districts, and 14 towns. Most of these mayors have resigned from their party in the period since the local elections and joined the AKP.
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At the AKP's parliamentary group meeting held today, 10 mayors from various parties joined the AKP in a ceremony. AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the party badges on the individuals who joined the ruling party. Six of the 10 individuals who joined the AKP were mayors who had resigned from the YRP.
In September 2024, the Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, Kasım Gülpınar, also resigned from the YRP and donned the AKP badge. In the 11-month period since the local elections, resignations have continued to occur within the YRP.
The number of deputies for the YRP, which managed to enter the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) with 5 deputies, has also fallen to 4. The party's Istanbul deputy, Suat Pamukçu, left the party and joined the AKP in February 2024, one month before the local elections.
YRP MAYORS JOIN THE AKP
Twenty-two individuals who previously served as executives in YRP provincial and district organizations also left the party and joined the AKP. Although Pamukçu and party executives had left the party before the local elections, the YRP's vote share increased in the local elections.
YRP Chairman Fatih Erbakan, in a statement made in September 2024, reacted to those who resigned from the party with the following remarks:
'The departure or arrival of 10-15 people does not change anything. We continue on our path with a thousand members every day and the participation of 30 thousand people per month. What matters is your place in the hearts of the nation. Our nation's favor is with us, our vote share is increasing, while they are melting away like a snowball.'
Finally, on February 19, 6 more YRP mayors submitted their resignations to their party and joined the AKP. The 6 mayors who joined the AKP are listed as follows:
Ayhan Çavuş – Çankırı, Orta, Yaylakent (YRP)
Ebubekir Irmak – Elazığ, Sivrice (YRP)
Adem Gümüş – Erzincan, Tercan, Kargın (YRP)
Murat Daban – Manisa, Selendi (YRP)
Mehmet Sıddık Salur – Muş, Merkez, Karaağaç (YRP)
Alihan Babat – Şırnak, Uludere, Şenoba (YRP)