Harsh criticisms from Yazıcı, who is resigning from the Future Party to join the AKP: Erdoğan's candidacy and the Istanbul Convention

Prof. Dr. Serap Yazıcı Özbudun, an Antalya deputy and one of the founders of the Future Party, announced that she has resigned from her party "due to necessity," while rumors in the lobbies suggest she will join the AKP at the congress to be held tomorrow. Before Özbudun even puts on the party badge, her past criticisms of the government have come to the fore.

SHE HAD CRITICIZED ERDOĞAN'S THIRD BID FOR THE PRESIDENCY

Prior to the 2023 elections, Özbudun had raised the issue of the unconstitutionality of President Erdoğan running for office for a third time, and regarding the Presidential Government System, she had stated that it was "dragging Turkey into a catastrophe." Regarding the Istanbul Convention, which was terminated by President Erdoğan with Presidential Decree No. 3718 published in the Official Gazette on March 20, 2021, she had assessed that "the President's withdrawal from the convention is unconstitutional."

The criticism Özbudun made in her parliamentary speech regarding the presidential government system is as follows:

"Foreign companies that have been in Turkey for many years and have been involved in production have now decided to leave Turkey. One of them is British Petrol, one is Honda, another is Borusan, and there are many more companies. British Petrol came to these lands in 1912. What does this mean? It saw the First World War in these lands, it saw the War of Independence, it saw various coups, it witnessed numerous crises, but it did not leave Turkey; however, it has now decided to leave Turkey.

It abandoned an investment it was going to make in Fortis; it will not carry out that investment in Turkey. I think these data sets are telling us something. What are they saying? The presidential government system, which was accepted with your votes, has dragged Turkey into a catastrophe; Turkey is now tumbling down from this precipice."

"UNCONSTITUTIONAL"

Özbudun's assessment regarding President Erdoğan's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is as follows:

"If the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) adopts a law approving the ratification of an international treaty, the president can ratify that treaty on behalf of the Republic of Turkey in accordance with Article 104, paragraph 11 of the Constitution.

In short, our constitution does not grant the president the authority to ratify international treaties on their own unless the TBMM authorizes them. Because unless the TBMM grants the president the authority to withdraw through a law that deems withdrawal appropriate, the president cannot express a will in this direction. Mr. Prosecutor also expresses the opinion from this perspective that the Presidential Decree dated March 19, 2021, is contrary to the Constitution and the law."

"HIS CANDIDACY IS NOT POSSIBLE"

Özbudun's assessment regarding the fact that Erdoğan cannot be a candidate for a third time is as follows:

“It is not constitutionally possible for Erdoğan to be a candidate for this office for a third time. Because Mr. Erdoğan was elected to this office for the first time in the popular vote held on August 10, 2014; and for the second time in the popular vote held on June 24, 2018. Thus, the rule of being elected at most twice, as foreseen by the Constitution, has been fulfilled.”

"EAT A BIG BITE, DON'T SPEAK BIG WORDS"

Although Serap Yazıcı Özbudun only announced her resignation in her statement today, public opinion and political lobbies have been stirred following the allegations that she will join the AKP. Özbudun's past criticisms of the government, her parliamentary speeches, and especially her assessment that Erdoğan cannot be a candidate for a third time have become a topic of discussion again. Cem Küçük, a columnist for the Türkiye newspaper, who is considered close to the government, stated that Özbudun would join the AKP, and while reminding her of her past speech, said, "In Turkey, eat a big bite, but don't speak big words."

Cem Küçük's social media post is as follows:

"I always say, in Turkey, eat a big bite, but don't speak big words. Every big word you speak will put you in a difficult situation later. On December 26, 2022, Serap Yazıcı said that President Erdoğan could not be a candidate for the third time. We had criticized her as well. Yazıcı is joining the AK Party tomorrow."