AKP Council Member Ekrem Baki resigns from his party: Due to pressure on the opposition
During the May session of the Üsküdar Municipal Council, AKP council member Ekrem Baki delivered an off-agenda speech. At the end of his remarks, he stated, I would like to announce a personal matter, and declared his resignation from the AKP, of which he was a member.
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Baki stated that he resigned due to the 'increasingly heavy pressure exerted against the opposition.' Following his announcement, Ekrem Baki was given a standing ovation by CHP council members, while citizens watching the session chanted, "Rights, law, justice."
According to the report by Özlem Güvemli from Nefes, Baki stated the following: "Due to the heavy pressure recently experienced in our country against the opposition and its increasing intensity, the fact that I do not see any signs of improvement, and because my understanding of both law and politics is incompatible with this, I have resigned from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), of which I was a member."
"YOU SHOULD HAVE HANDED OUT FLAGS TOO"
AKP council members reacted to the slogans chanted by those watching the session, saying, "You should have handed out flags too, so they could wave them," and demanded that the situation be addressed.
Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, who presided over the session, warned that it was inappropriate for citizens watching from the balcony to intervene in the council proceedings: "People appreciated Mr. Ekrem for making a decision in the face of the unjust and unlawful processes being experienced. Let me remind and warn you; there should be no such intervention in the council chamber. I believe they will be more careful. I congratulate Mr. Ekrem on his decision. I hope it will be beneficial for both him and our country."
Reminding that Ekrem Baki was elected with the votes of AKP members, AKP Council Member Vefa Yunus Taylan said, "What would be fitting for him is to also resign from his council membership. However, we respect his decision."