AKP-New Welfare Party tension... Deputy Chairman Mehmet Altınöz: Some parties mentioning the YRP is a syndrome of desperation

Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr

The New Welfare Party (YRP), which joined the People's Alliance in the presidential elections, had held alliance talks again before the local elections to be held on March 31, but decided to enter the elections independently. The YRP's decision to field candidates, especially in Istanbul and Ankara where the AKP is struggling, and the nomination of former AKP members by the party, has raised tensions within the ruling party.

The YRP's decision not to join the People's Alliance also caused a backlash within the party. Secretary General and Istanbul MP Suat Pamukçu resigned. In his statements to the Yenişafak newspaper following his resignation, Pamukçu claimed that FETÖ members had infiltrated the YRP. Pamukçu also argued that during the alliance negotiations with the AKP before the May 14 elections, he had no demands for parliamentary seats, but that Deputy Chairman and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayoral Candidate Mehmet Altınöz had said, "We want 25 MPs." Speaking to 12punto, Altınöz responded to Pamukçu's allegations.

THE ALLEGATION THAT "ALTINÖZ WANTED 25 MPS"

Emphasizing that certain discussions and proposals were made during the alliance negotiations, Altınöz said, "Nothing like that happened." Altınöz spoke as follows:

"Those were conversations held in the nature of consultations to open minds and take precautions within the scope of the meetings held. They have a beginning, an end, a left, and a right. Of course, there was no such demand made out of the blue. There is no basis for those statements. I cannot say 'yes I wanted' or 'no I didn't' to your question. These were some suggestions and recommendations put forward based on the data there during the meetings. So, nothing like that happened. 'Give us this many MPs, let it be this much, let it be that much.' He is making a comment on his own behalf based on a conversation held over 2 months and throwing out a figure. Nothing like that happened, no."

"YOU CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL"

Altınöz reacted harshly to Pamukçu's claim that "They filled the party with FETÖ members" and called on Pamukçu to do what is necessary:

"Apparently there are FETÖ members in the party and we don't know about it. We say, 'Okay then, explain it, who are these FETÖ members?' Give names. This person is currently our MP. He resigned but is still an MP in parliament. Then you do what is necessary. There is no point in whining and complaining like a man on the street. Go then, whoever is a FETÖ member, do what is necessary. He doesn't give a single name, he just says 'There are FETÖ members in the party.' He is a brother of ours who previously served as secretary general and is now, in a way, trying to cause our party to lose reputation in the eyes of society. This has no basis. On the contrary, the party is rising. It is clear that you are trying to weaken the party's strength by doing this. But you cannot be successful. Because the only party that FETÖ members cannot come to is the YRP. This could be the last sentence that could be said about our party."

The transition of members and mayors from the AKP to the YRP is also noteworthy. When we asked Altınöz the reason for this, he stated that the YRP is an alternative to the government. Altınöz said:

"Both citizens and politicians say that the time for Welfare has come. The New Welfare Party is Turkey's game-changing, leading party. We are carrying out our field work in Istanbul most actively together with our MPs. The citizen on the street says, 'The time for Welfare has come again.' The alternative is the YRP. It is quite natural for it to be this way."

"SYNDROME OF DESPERATION"

The fact that former AKP members are joining the YRP and becoming candidates has also come to President Erdoğan's agenda. In a speech at a rally, Erdoğan had said, "We will not allow those who try to walk in our shadow with various statements and implications while working to make us lose." It was discussed in the media that Erdoğan was implying the YRP with these words. Altınöz said:

"Frankly, we do not think the President is targeting us. There are those who were former MPs or former mayors and are now engaged in politics in other parties. This does not just show that the YRP is being taken into account. One could also interpret it this way: is the DEM Party or the IYI Party fielding candidates so that the CHP doesn't win? A party must, of course, field candidates. What will it do? Will parties always support one party? This has no end. You also have an identity and a legal personality. You take a stance. The whining, complaining, and sadness of some parties frankly show that they are in a state of desperation. I am watching it with sadness, frankly. Some parties mentioning the YRP is a syndrome of desperation. You will work, you will win. The YRP is working and will win. We are going to a program in Avcılar now with our MPs. We will win Avcılar, and we will win Istanbul. We are not complaining at all. They cut our banners here, they canceled our TV program, etc., we are not complaining at all."

WHETHER THE AKP SUPPORTS US OR NOT...

Speaking to 12punto before his İBB candidacy was finalized, Altınöz had said, "The AK Party already lost Istanbul and Ankara in the 2019 local elections. They will lose in 2024 as well. Let them not lose, let them support the New Welfare Party. Let this alliance happen in Istanbul and Ankara under the roof of the New Welfare Party. We supported Mr. Erdoğan in the presidential elections. Mr. Erdoğan and the AK Party administrators owe us a debt of loyalty." When asked, "Do you still think the same way?" Altınöz replied as follows:

"I spoke that day with data from the past. We are being provided with serious information from all research companies and especially from the field. We have registered 200 thousand members in the last 6 months. We will enter the elections on March 31 with 500 thousand members. This is our registered member count. We currently have approximately 650 thousand wet-signed members. But they have not yet been entered into the system on the computer. Or the person signed but the ID number was written incorrectly. Their phone number was written incorrectly. They are not entered into the system, we are re-contacting the person.

We made those comments at that time with the feedback we received from the field and the data from the research companies that came in. The AK Party lost Istanbul and Ankara in 2019. We made this comment because the AK Party is currently the ruling party in the field and its economic model is subject to very serious criticism by the citizens. We are winning now regardless of whether they support us or not. That time has passed, that agenda is in the past."