Ex-minister: AKP officials calling those who leave party to invite them back

DEVA deputy chair and former minister Sadullah Ergin said that ex-members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have received individual phone calls and were told that “[leaving the party] was not good for them” and that they should “come back."

Thursday October 28 2021 11:00 am

Duvar English

Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) deputy chair and former justice minister Sadullah Ergin said that ex-members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) received individual phone calls and were told that “[leaving the party] was not good for them” and that they should “come back."

"The AKP has been calling those who quit membership to tell them that it may not be good for them. The AKP wants them back," Ergin told Karar TV on Oct. 25.

The former minister slammed the AKP, saying that it was aiming to tackle the mafia when it entered the political stage, whereas now "some claim it works with its subcontractors."

According to Ergin, members of the AKP are getting increasingly aware of the deficiencies. He said that they were previously opposed to those leaving the party, while now they wish success to those who go on their own way.

“Those who don't leave the AKP wish success to those who leave, but note that they can’t do the same due to their engagements, as their children or siblings work within the party. They tell us that we cannot count on them, but that their prayers are with us. I see this in my own environment.”

Ergin also drew parallels between the former secular establishment and the AKP today: During the time of the 1997 post-modern coup, certain companies were subject to economic sanctions as their bosses were religiously conservative.

Nowadays, the same kind of thing prevails whereby people with ties to certain political institutions, especially those who left the AKP, are subject to pressure, Ergin said.