YENİ Party Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Besim Dutlulu responded to claims that he would join the AKP with a statement on his social media account.
Dutlulu stated that the allegations claiming he had been in contact with certain AKP figures and would change parties do not reflect the truth, adding that he is continuing his duties within his party.
Expressing that he has not met with Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, AKP MKYK member Hamza Dağ, or AKP MKYK member and Manisa Deputy Ahmet Mücahit Arınç, who were mentioned in the allegations, Dutlulu said, "I have not met with Minister of Environment and Urbanization Mr. Murat Kurum, nor with Mr. Hamza Dağ, nor with Mr. Mücahit Arınç. I am watching the news reports in the press with astonishment. There is no truth to the reports that have appeared."
"OF COURSE I AM CONTINUING"
Stating that he continues his field work and contacts with party organizations, Dutlulu noted that he had visited the Kula and Demirci YENİ Party district headquarters in recent days.
In his statement, Dutlulu said, "I was at the Kula YENİ Party District Headquarters on Tuesday, and I was at the Demirci YENİ Party District Headquarters today. All of these are on my social media. I will be at the YENİ Party Provincial Congress on Sunday; of course, I am continuing with our party."
Besim Dutlulu resigned from the CHP in July 2026 and joined the YENİ Party, which was founded under the leadership of Özgür Özel, becoming the party's first metropolitan mayor.
News Source: 12punto
