Once a critic of the government: The MP who switched from IYI Party to AKP has disappeared from Parliament

Kayseri MP Dursun Ataş has exhibited significant differences in his political activities since resigning from the IYI Party and joining the AKP in October 2024. While he maintained an active profile in Parliament with 8 legislative proposals and 6 parliamentary questions during his time on the IYI Party benches, Ataş has not made any such initiatives in the period following his party switch.

According to a report by Sözcü, following his move to the AKP, Dursun Ataş has engaged with the public primarily through field work. Ataş, who has been visiting tradespeople and spending time with university students, stated, “Under the leadership of our President, we are working tirelessly and without fatigue. We are competing not with words, but to serve the nation.”

HARSH CRITICISM OF THE AKP FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY PODIUM

Ataş, a retired non-commissioned officer, had previously criticized the current government system with harsh words from the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey) podium during his time in the IYI Party. At that time, he had said, “The partisan presidential government system has collapsed. All powers have been given to one man, there is no meritocracy, the rule of law is being trampled upon, and we are living through the worst days of our history. Leave the palace where you enjoy luxury and go to the people.”

PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES HAVE ALSO DECREASED

Ataş, who took the floor in Parliament a total of 26 times during his 17 months in the IYI Party, has spoken from the podium only twice in the 15-month period since joining the AKP. During his IYI Party tenure, Ataş had also criticized the government's economic policies, stating, “Due to the government's flawed policies, our citizens have been forced to live below the hunger threshold.”