NEW Party calculations in AKP corridors: Transfer claims also on the agenda

Nefes Gazetesi columnist Nuray Babacan, in her article titled "The NEW Party through the eyes of AKP members," reported that the NEW Party, founded by Özgür Özel, is being closely watched in AKP corridors.

According to Babacan's article, AKP members are evaluating elements such as the day Özgür Özel chose to announce the party, the venue, the language he used, and the party name, noting that the NEW Party could be effective if the process is managed correctly.

The article also includes assessments from some figures who have been involved in politics within the AKP for many years. 

According to Babacan, the comments made about the NEW Party in AKP corridors are as follows:

“It is impossible to change the views of the 15-20 percent base in our party. Everyone knows that whoever gets the votes of the 10-15 percent in the middle wins the election. They do not have a rigid partisan mindset. They look at their comfort, they look at their prosperity. They were the ones who brought the AKP to power. When they find a better alternative, they leave.

If the NEW Party organizes the masses that are in opposition along with the CHP base and are waiting for a signal from them, they will get results. The emergence of the New Party could be a new option in politics. They said 80 people, they found 91. The name New Party does not have an ideological message. If they can manage to embrace everyone, if they can diversify the people they walk the path with, and if names who are not from the CHP are also included, they could have an advantage.

Choosing the Anadolu Club for the announcement and performing Friday prayers at Hacı Bayram were well-planned. Whoever thought of it, they were good steps in terms of the message directed at names in the center.

The name of the party is neutral. It does not contain prejudice for many people. By saying a new party, Özgür Özel wanted to say, ‘this is my story, I am rewriting my story.’ It may contain a message for opposition members who are prejudiced against the CHP. There were friends who underestimated Özgür Özel. He is smart and hardworking. Being young is also his biggest advantage.

However, their success hangs by a thread. They will go through a critical process. If they take the right steps, they could be lucky. I am someone who was there during our founding years. We experienced similar things. There were those who wanted to stop us, but they were not successful. Therefore, they need to be resilient. It will be a difficult road…”

Babacan reported in her article that possible political moves the NEW Party might face in the coming period are also being evaluated in AKP corridors.

According to the article, it is being discussed in the corridors that regulations regarding parliamentary immunity, which have been shelved for now, could return to the agenda in the autumn.

It was also reported that some AKP figures expressed that new transfer plans could be made through politicians remaining in the CHP or moving to the NEW Party.

According to the inside information conveyed by Babacan, some figures claim that political scenarios aiming to split the CHP into three are also being discussed. According to these assessments, the goal could be to encourage a third political formation with names leaving the CHP and the NEW Party, and to highlight the narrative that "the CHP is in three pieces, nothing can be achieved with factionalists."

News Source: 12punto