4 parties prepare for political alliance: 'Significant progress made'

DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan announced that they are working on a new political partnership that includes the DEVA Party, the Yeniden Refah Party, the Saadet Party, and the Gelecek Party. Stating that significant progress has been made in the preparation process, Babacan said the structure could expand in the future with the participation of other parties.

Meeting with journalists in Ankara, Babacan evaluated the formation of common ground between the Yeniden Refah Party and the Saadet Party as an "important development." Babacan stated that the problems between the two parties have been overcome and that views regarding the necessity of an alliance have been expressed.

"Both parties have overcome the issues. The views of both sides regarding the necessity of an alliance have been expressed. The difficulties have been overcome. The alliance structure will expand in the coming period. We have contacts with other parties as well, but it is not right to announce this now. It is more appropriate to make an announcement once a consensus is reached."

Babacan noted that the model being worked on is not intended to be just a classic electoral alliance; options such as a joint list and a joint candidate could also be evaluated. The process is expected to become more concrete once the election calendar is clarified.

Stating that the new structure aims to create an alternative to the AKP, Babacan argued that a "comfortably selectable" address must be created, especially for voters who have voted for the AKP in the past but are now looking for a new option.

"The issue is not just winning the election; the issue is winning Turkey. What good is it if I win the election but lose Turkey? We need to win in the election. And under these conditions, we believe that we will be the only real alternative to the current government."

Responding to a question about whether a joint presidential candidate would be put forward, Babacan said their priority at this stage is to expand the alliance. The DEVA leader said, "The DEVA Party's candidate is me. Party chairmen are natural candidates. Our goal right now is to expand the alliance and present that unity to our nation. After that, election cooperation and candidacies will be discussed."