AKP deputy resigns over ‘divisive’ presidential system concerns

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Hürriyet Photo

An Istanbul deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) announced his resignation May 29 over his recognition of the party’s “divisive” policies under the roof of the presidential system.

Ahmet Kutalmış Türkeş, who is the son of the founder of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Alparslan Türkeş, said he realized the conversion trap of the 92-year-old state into a federation and autonomous regions under the name of the presidential system, as well as the omission of the word “Turkish” from the constitution in the AKP’s election manifesto.

“Those kind of desires in the election manifesto ally with the desires of the terrorist movement and the powers behind it which want to divide Turkey. It is the evidence of their alleged advanced democracy level that those who harp on democracy every single day did not take the deputies’ opinion for once while preparing such a dangerous election manifesto,” said Türkeş, in a written statement.

In his statement, Türkeş also added defamations made by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and his supporters against his late father and the refrainment from mentioning the name of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, were indications of malicious intent and further lead to his resignation, as he saw the rapid deterioration within the party.