Babacan's DEVA Party speeds up mobilization amid COVID-19 normalization process

Nergis Demirkaya / DUVAR

The Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) has speeded up its efforts of mobilization as Turkey entered the normalization process following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

DEVA, which was founded by former deputy prime minister Ali Babacan, was established on March 11, the day when Turkey reported its first coronavirus case.

As the country has since embarked upon a process of normalization and is reopening restaurants and cafes after nearly three months of closure, DEVA's founding members have set up 18 commissions which will be tasked with the establishment of party organizations in all of Turkey's 81 provinces.

The precautions undertaken to combat the pandemic hindered the party’s plans to interview candidates for local positions, party officials said, adding that DEVA conducted video conferences and telephone interviews with prospective candidates, the number of which totaled 85,000 throughout Turkey and 18,000 in Istanbul alone.

The commissions intend to draft a report for each province after having met with local leaders and civil society organizations. The party ultimately aims to stage local congresses in September and October and a large national congress before the end of the year, with the goal of preparing to run in an election.

One official said that DEVA has been the subject of such intense interest throughout the country that it has resulted in con artists posing as the party launching fake donation campaigns on its behalf, adding that only official party accounts were authorized to collect donations.