YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel made assessments regarding the agenda during a joint press conference held after his meeting with Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Chairman Erkan Baş.
In Özel's statements, the focus was on Cemil Tugay joining the AKP after resigning on June 18, having been elected from the CHP lists. Tugay had joined the party ranks at the Group Meeting held at the AKP Headquarters yesterday.
Using harsh expressions regarding Tugay, Özel said he felt "extraordinary sadness" and "shame" over what had happened. Stating that the AKP had pinned a badge on a figure it had previously criticized, Özel said, "That person, yes, has betrayed İzmir. He is a traitor to İzmir. He is a traitor to us."
You know the sentiment in İzmir. Anyone who betrays that sentiment is a traitor. But for the AK Party, he is also a puppet.
Özel claimed that a secretary-general would be appointed in the coming days, arguing that a former mayor would be assigned during this process. Claiming that the AKP would transfer resources to İzmir, Özel alleged that Tugay would be visible at ceremonies, while other matters would be carried out under AKP coordination.
In his statement, Özel described this situation as "the AK Party appointing a trustee to İzmir," while criticizing the pinning of a badge on Tugay with the words "pinning a badge on a puppet."
News Source: 12punto
