Deep silence in the AKP: Intra-party tension spills over into columns
Journalist Aytunç Erkin wrote about the divisions within the AKP. Aytunç Erkin stated that the remarks by Cem Küçük, Fuat Uğur, and Mehmet Uçum indicate that the intra-party tension has become visible not only in the corridors but also to the public.
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In his column today, journalist Aytunç Erkin noted that the silence within the AKP has reached remarkable proportions, pointing out that cracks within the party are deepening. Stating that "it is no secret that discussions that have not yet surfaced are ongoing within the Beştepe and AKP circles," Erkin emphasized that these developments are now being reflected in the public eye.
In his article titled "The silence in the AKP cannot be contained in columns" in Nefes Gazetesi, Erkin listed the statements of figures who have brought the fractures within the AKP to light.
Erkin's article, published today in Nefes Gazetesi, is as follows:
"It is no secret that discussions that have not yet surfaced are ongoing within the Beştepe and AKP circles. We see this from time to time in statements made or in newspaper or internet columns.
For example...
Yesterday, Türkiye Gazetesi columnist Cem Küçük wrote an article titled 'The silence in the AK Party is incomprehensible!' and rebelled against the silence within the party following the operations against Ekrem İmamoğlu that began on March 19:
'... The CHP leader turns a blind eye to all of this and attacks the AK Party heavily. He officially throws the names he targets in front of the public with lies. Most recently, they targeted the Minister of National Education, claiming he was 'stealing LGS questions.' There is not a single piece of evidence. Even if you throw their lies in their faces, they are not ashamed! However, AK Party deputies, mayors, and party members do not open their mouths. They are either waiting for President Erdoğan to make a statement or for AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik... The CHP is mired in all kinds of corruption. They cannot even answer the allegations against them. These would not even be on the agenda if it weren't for some journalists. Why are AK Party members silent? There must be an answer to this. It is not 'cowardice.' It is not 'worrying about what happens if the government changes tomorrow.' Then what is it? Let the authorized names of the AK Party think about this now. They might say, 'What is it to you?' They are right. What is it to us!.. Let me add one last note: This silence is incomprehensible!..'
It is being discussed that a group with significant weight at the AKP Headquarters is 'remaining silent regarding the operations,' and that this 'silence' means they do not 'approve' of the operations.
It's not over...
Fuat Uğur: Who is that team inside the AKP?team inside the AKP
On July 1, TV100 columnistFuat Uğur wrote a 'meaningful' article. He evaluated the postponement of the CHP congress case with an article titled "The decision is a victory for the team in the AK Party that works with Özgür Özel": "The decision,with Özgür Özelworkingthe victory of the team in the AK Party"
"There is something I know very well. For months,I know very wellthere is something. For months the intermediaries sent by Özgür Özelwere in intense negotiationswith a team inside the AK Party.Who is that team, who does it consist of? The President constantly works with a coalition in the party and the government. This team consists of elements of that coalition and liberal names ideologically close to Ahmet Davutoğlu. The team I mentionednegotiationscurrently feels close to the President and powerful, and they believe they are influencing Erdoğan.I said that the intermediaries of Özgür Özel were in intense negotiations with this team inside the AK Party before the Congress case, but in reality, these contacts had started much earlier. During the process of convincing President Tayyip Erdoğan to meet with Özgür Özel, using the local election defeat as an excuse."The team I mentionedThe team I mentionedcurrently feels close to the President and powerfuland they believe they are influencing Erdoğan.they believe they are influencing Erdoğan. The intermediaries of Özgür Özelbefore the Congress case with this team inside the AK PartyintensenegotiationsI said they were havingbut in realitythese contacts had started much earlier.Using the local electiondefeat as an excuse, in the process of convincing President Tayyip ErdoğanPresident Tayyip Erdoğan to meet with Özgür Özel.in the process ofconvincing him."
Fuat Uğur continued his 'insistence' on July 3, saying, 'Why is the lie choir in the AK Party pumping fear? Did Özgür Özel know about September 8?' Uğur wrote about 'that group' within the AKP that meets with Erdoğan, providing dates and times, without naming names.
It is worth underlining again here:
A group at the AKP Headquarters argues that the İmamoğlu operations are causing the AKP to lose votes.
It's not over.
Uçum: There can be no constitution without a referendum
May 11, 2024...
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said, 'Constitutional discussions should be an occasion for achieving social consensus. The place for this discussion is the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey). The TBMM has the will, power, and authority to draft a constitution. No one should be allowed to poison this process.'
One day later (May 12, 2024), Chief Advisor to the President and Deputy Chairman of the Legal Policies Board Mehmet Uçum said: 'What needs to be paid attention to here is this: To say let's apply the current constitution's 'possibility of putting a constitutional amendment into effect without submitting it to a referendum with 400 or more votes' to a new constitution is to say let's make a new constitution without the direct approval of the people. This perspective is a violation of the principle of legitimacy regarding the people making the final decision in the making of a new constitution. This principle is a principle that is almost universally accepted in democratic systems today. It is the only way to ensure direct democratic legitimacy in the making of a new constitution.'
The discussion is not over.
June 13, 2025...
Numan Kurtulmuş assessed that it is 'the right time' for a new constitution, stating, 'No party has the luxury of saying 'I am not talking, I am not negotiating' in this process.' Describing the most ideal result as 'the adoption of a constitutional proposal with over 400 votes,' Kurtulmuş said, 'It is important that a decision is made with a large majority and consensus. This process is not just mine as the Parliament Speaker, but the common responsibility of all political parties.'
The answer again came from Uçum: 'Even if a new constitution is adopted in the TBMM with 400 or more votes, there are two main reasons for the necessity of a referendum: The first reason is the necessity of completing democratic legitimacy with the approval of the people, who are the original constituent power. The second reason is the requirement of the people's right to audit whether a legal text suitable for the people's political constitutional vision has been adopted in Parliament. Final word: There can be no new constitution without a referendum. (July 20, 2025)'
CONCLUSION: Although the CHP is being discussed today, there is a serious debate within the AKP and among the decision-makers of the government. It is necessary to focus on this from time to time."