19.06.2026 10:30
The first reaction from the AK Party came after Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay resigned from the CHP. Hamza Dağ, a member of the Central Decision and Executive Committee who was the AK Party's candidate for Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in the last local elections, argued that Tugay cannot govern the city with contradictory statements and said, "The real expectation of the people of Izmir is not for Mr. Tugay to resign from party membership, but from his position as mayor."
The announcement by Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay that he resigned from the Republican People's Party (CHP) caused a huge stir in the political arena. One of the harshest criticisms following the decision came from AK Party Central Executive Board Member and Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Candidate Hamza Dağ. Making statements on his social media account, Dağ accused Tugay of inconsistency.
"AN UNDERSTANDING THAT MAKES CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS"
Drawing attention to the contradictions between Cemil Tugay’s recent rhetoric and his current resignation decision, Hamza Dağ stated that the issue of which party Tugay belongs to is not on the agenda of Izmir residents, using the following expressions:
"Just a few days ago, Mr. Tugay said 'The CHP is our roof, I don't plan to resign'; a few weeks ago, when asked why he hadn't implemented a project regarding Izmir's transportation problems, he replied 'I will do that under CHP rule.' Today, he left his party by saying the CHP is no longer a solution address. An understanding that makes completely contradictory statements in such a short time cannot possibly chart a course for Izmir."
"IZMIR LOST THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS"
Also targeting the performance of the local administration in his statement, Dağ argued that chronic problems in Izmir could not be solved during Tugay's tenure. Claiming that no permanent works were brought to the city in the past approximately two and a half years, AK Party member Dağ continued his words as follows:
"In many areas from transportation to infrastructure, from urbanism to the basic services of municipality, Izmir has regressed; our citizens have been left alone with growing problems every day. Izmir has not only lost the past two and a half years. More importantly, the people of Izmir now very clearly see that the remaining two and a half years will not be any different."
"THE REAL EXPECTATION IS FOR HIM TO RESIGN FROM THE MAYORALTY"
At the end of his statement, directly addressing Cemil Tugay, Hamza Dağ emphasized that the expectation of the people of Izmir is not a political split but an administrative change and a service-oriented approach. Dağ concluded his message with these clear words:
"Therefore, the expectation of the people of Izmir today is not for Mr. Tugay to resign from CHP membership, but to resign from his position as Izmir Metropolitan Mayor."