It has been stated that İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who joined the AKP, has made new assessments regarding his decision to change parties. According to the pro-AKP newspaper Yeni Şafak, Tugay told a group from the AKP organization during a conversation that he made his decision "for the sake of İzmir."
According to the report, Tugay criticized the CHP, stating, "In the CHP, we do nothing but engage in internal opposition. This also affects our ability to provide service."
It was also reported that Tugay touched upon the influence of his close circle and family on the decision-making process. According to this, Tugay said, "There are no AK Party members in my circle, but my entire family and circle were insistent that I join the AK Party. I made the right decision. I did this for İzmir. We love to work. From now on, we will work even harder for İzmir. We made the right decision for İzmir."
In the same conversation, it was also alleged that Tugay emphasized he made the decision with the support of his family, using the phrases, "I came here with my mother's prayers and my wife's support."
PREVIOUS STATEMENT COMES TO THE FORE
These words from Tugay brought his statement from January 29, 2026, regarding allegations that he would join the AKP, back to the agenda. In that interview, Tugay had said that no AKP member had contacted him on this matter and stated, "I have had a worldview and a perspective on life for all these years. If I were to disregard these in one day and join the AKP, first of all, those in my close circle would not look me in the face."
In the same statement, Tugay had defended that the allegations were baseless, stating that his mother had said, "I would disown you," and his wife had said, "I would divorce you."
News Source: 12punto
