Selçuk Özdağ objects to Davutoğlu's decision

Following the announcement by former Prime Minister and Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu that he is leaving active politics and that his party's activities are being terminated, Selçuk Özdağ, one of the party's founding members, has voiced criticisms regarding the process.

In his written statement, Davutoğlu had noted that in 2021, due to the prevailing political conditions, they had made attempts to form an alliance among conservative parties, but these efforts remained inconclusive. He stated that after the 2023 elections, a group was formed under the umbrella of the Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi) and later the New Path Party (Yeni Yol Partisi) in order to ensure that alternative conservative politics were represented in Parliament.

Davutoğlu noted that contacts aimed at transforming the structure in question into a single party or forming an organic alliance over time also failed to yield results.

CRITICISM OF THE PROCESS FROM ÖZDAĞ

Reacting to the decision, Selçuk Özdağ argued that no comprehensive evaluation was conducted regarding the dissolution of the party. Özdağ said, "They called us in a rush last Thursday and said, 'We have dissolved the party.' A statement is being published. I saw this statement only after it was published on Mr. Davutoğlu's page."

Stating that Davutoğlu's decision to step down as chairman could be met with respect, Özdağ expressed that the decision regarding the party's future should have been made with collective wisdom. Özdağ remarked, "Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu may step down as Chairman; we respect that, but a 10-15 day evaluation process could have been carried out for the decision to dissolve the party. No opportunity was given in this direction. It is not a joint decision."

Özdağ stated that instead of terminating the party's activities, merger options could have been put on the table, suggesting that work could have been done with the DEVA Party or the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi). Expressing that it would have been more appropriate for Davutoğlu to announce his decision to leave active politics after such evaluations, Özdağ noted that the process was not managed correctly.

Özdağ also stated that it would have been more appropriate for the published text to be prepared as a personal resignation statement rather than as a declaration on behalf of the party.