Breaking News... Erdoğan's first statement on deputies who were elected with CHP votes and joined the AKP

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is speaking at his party's group meeting.

During the meeting, Erdoğan pinned badges on Mersin Deputy Hasan Ufuk Çakır, who resigned following a request for his expulsion from the CHP; İsa Mesih Şahin, who resigned from the Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) to become an independent deputy; and Kahramanmaraş Deputy İrfan Karatutlu, who resigned from the DEVA Party.

Highlights from Erdoğan's remarks are as follows:

"I feel great happiness to be with you at the first group meeting of 2026. I thank each of you for your support, your enthusiasm, and your loyalty.

Regardless of our titles, we are all soldiers on the path of serving the nation; we are lovers of this heavenly homeland. We are in love with this nation and this country. Our hearts beat for Turkey, they beat for all 86 million. We are members of a great family.

The AK Party family is growing stronger every day, expanding its ranks with new participants. Our Office of the Supreme Court Chief Public Prosecutor has announced the latest data. Accordingly, our AK Party has maintained its top position in 2025 with a membership count of 11 million 543 thousand 301.

"WE PASSED A VERY SUCCESSFUL TEST"

We have left behind a year that was quite intense in the context of regional and global developments. In 2025, a year where crises, conflicts, and wars were never lacking, we protected the trust of the nation in the best possible way. In none of the sensitive outcomes we had to manage did we allow the slightest harm to Turkey's interests. From the Russia-Ukraine war, which is entering its 5th year, to the Gaza genocide, from Iran to Sudan, and from our relations with the US and Europe to the Turkic world, we passed a very successful test both at home and abroad in every field. As the AK Party and the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı), we did not bow our nation's head. We always acted in accordance with the greatness and glory of Turkey and the Turkish nation.

Our top priority in 2025 was the revitalization of the earthquake zone. We did not let the trust placed in us go to waste. We did not just build houses, workplaces, and residences; we also built hope. May the homes we delivered be auspicious for their rightful owners.

I hope that our central government budget, which was negotiated and finalized in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), will be beneficial for our country and our nation. We prepared our 2026 budget, which approaches 19 trillion liras, with a human-centered, production and export-oriented vision that seeks to increase the prosperity of all 86 million.

The year 2026 will be a year of reform for our country. We will implement the Turkey Century Reform Program with the support of our Parliament.

"THE CADRE THAT WILL LEAD TURKEY TO SAFETY IS CLEAR"

It is seen that a new battle is taking place, which is understood to be conducted over precious metals and will be very painful for the global economy. The Western world is losing, one by one, all the arguments it has used for years to threaten other countries. The cadre that will lead Turkey to safety from this global storm, the intensity of which is increasing, is clear. The name of this cadre is the AK Party and the People's Alliance.

The guarantee of a strong Turkey is a strong AK Party and a strong People's Alliance. The will to disrupt imperialist games is abundantly present in this cadre and this alliance. Whatever we do, we will do it for all of Turkey.

We will do this so as not to leave this nation to the mercy of the incompetent who cannot even provide water to the capital, Ankara. We will do this to send low-quality politicians, who consider complaining about their country to foreigners a skill, to the dusty shelves of history. We will do this at the same time for the security of the oppressed and victims whose eyes light up when they hear the name of Turkey.

"WE HAVE NOT BEEN LIKE THOSE WHO SUBJECTED OUR NATION TO A KARBALA"

We will do this for our 86 million, and for our 7 million brothers and sisters abroad. We will do this so that the Century of Turkey becomes a reality with all its elements. We will once again disappoint those who wait for the AK Party and the People's Alliance to stumble.

Being accountable to the public is an indispensable condition of democracy. We know how to be accountable to our nation not only at the ballot box but also on different platforms. We shared our goals and explained to our nation how many of them we have achieved. We did not act like those who sell dreams in the squares and subject our nation to a Karbala in the winter season of 2026 Turkey.

We did not make promises to our people that we could not keep."