Müsavat Dervişoğlu responds to claims that 'MPs close to Akşener will join the AKP'

The repercussions of the visit by Meral Akşener, who stepped down as chair after the March 31 Local Elections, to AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Palace continue.

It has been alleged that following the surprise meeting, names close to Akşener in the IYI Party will join the AKP.

DERVİŞOĞLU TO MAKE STERN STATEMENTS

While the IYI Party front states that Akşener's visit to Erdoğan does not bind the party, all eyes have turned to the IYI Party's group meeting tomorrow at 10:30 AM.

Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk wrote that IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu will make stern statements and that some names are even expected to be expelled from the party.

Speaking to Saygı Öztürk, Müsavat Dervişoğlu said, "I will express my views and thoughts on Wednesday. Naturally, there will be many things I will criticize that day. Since no one says what they talked about, let me speak, and we will see what happens. Everyone is dealing with the gossip of the matter, asking 'why did this happen, why did that happen?' That is why if something is to be said, it must be made public."

"WHAT IS ASKED OF ME IS NOT ASKED OF MS. MERAL"

Stating that he does not know the content of the Akşener-Erdoğan meeting, Dervişoğlu spoke as follows regarding the allegations that there are intense efforts to dissolve the IYI Party:

"All of these can be discussed. I have been Chairman for only one month. The coming process will show what will happen. There is a meeting. No one has any idea about the content of the meeting, but there are many evaluations on the subject in television programs and newspaper columns. One should think about why everyone is making so many evaluations or comments without knowing anything. If no one knows the content and everyone is doing something based on rumors, should I join this wave? What can I do? The coming process will show. I am also expressing what I need to say. I will say something at our TBMM group meeting tomorrow at 10:30 AM. What I cannot understand is, there is a meeting. The parties involved are not saying anything about this meeting. But there are so many comments. What is asked of me is not asked of Ms. Meral."

AKŞENER AND ERDOĞAN DISCUSSED 'COUNTRY ISSUES'

Ms. Akşener called me after she left the meeting. It was a mutual meeting that did not contain details to be discussed, such as that they 'talked about country issues' with Erdoğan. It is said that there was a strategy in this, that this would happen, that would happen, and then that two people were present at the meeting. I do not engage in shallowness. This is due to my character. Also, everyone is saying that the parties to the meeting should make a statement about what was discussed. What can we talk about before they say anything?

"I AM CONFIDENT IN THEIR POLITICAL INTEGRITY"

There are allegations regarding the recruitment of MPs from the IYI Party. Such allegations have no practice in politics. I am confident in the political integrity and patriotism of my fellow MPs in my party. If there is anyone who has lost their patriotism, I cannot say anything about them. It is shameful to cast aspersions on a huge party. Big men are saying, 'The IYI Party is dissolving, falling apart, this many people from the IYI Party will go to the AKP, to the CHP, etc.' Isn't this shameful? Are we not obliged to protect the integrity of politics? Are we not all responsible for this? There were journalists in this country who protected the integrity of their pens. Now there are dubious communicators. They are supposedly trying to create and manage perceptions. How will this lift the country up? Does no one have any responsibility, is the only responsibility mine? These behaviors first bother honest journalists like you. It seems very normal to me that you ask. But to go on one TV channel after another without knowing anything, I swear I am ashamed on their behalf. This is not something that can be done with a few pennies, it is shameful."

News Source: 12punto