15.05.2026 09:10
DEVA Party leader Ali Babacan made remarks that will be widely discussed regarding the mayors and members of parliament who recently moved from CHP to AK Party. Babacan said, "We do not want to leave the country to the CHP, which is dealing with its own internal problems." Criticizing CHP's stance on transfers, Babacan added, "There is no problem when they pin badges on members of parliament from other parties, but when you pin a badge on one of their members of parliament or mayors, they raise a huge fuss."
Ali Babacan, Chairman of the DEVA Party, made assessments on many topics from economic management to political transfers, from the government's change process to new alliance searches. Babacan, who answered questions from Taha Akyol and Elif Çakır on Karar TV, used expressions about CHP that will be highly debated.
"WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS GOES"
In response to a question about the lawsuit seeking absolute nullity against CHP, Babacan said, "What the President says goes. If he wants to declare absolute nullity, he can; if he wants Kılıçdaroğlu to come, he comes." Babacan added, "As long as the absolute nullity case continues, the main opposition party will go through different phases. There are also various movements within their own ranks. The President may want to monitor this as well."
"THEY NEVER THINK ABOUT HOW THEY WILL FACE THE NATION"
Regarding the transfer of Afyon Mayor Burcu Köksal and Aydın Metropolitan Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu to AK Party, Babacan said, "In the past, politicians had a sense of shame. Unfortunately, we no longer see traces of that. They never think, 'how will I face the nation?' What always comes to my mind in such transfers is: what are the financial and rent-related aspects of this matter?"
"WHEN YOU PIN A BADGE ON YOUR MAYORS, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE"
Criticizing CHP's stance on political transfers, Babacan stated, "The main opposition party pinned badges on many MPs sitting at the same table. You pin badges on MPs from İYİ Party or DEVA, who sit at the same table. There’s no problem when you pin badges on MPs from other parties, but when someone pins a badge on one of your MPs or mayors, they cause an uproar. When they leave, they become the worst people. That’s not right. CHP’s attitude is not correct."
"WE DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY TO CHP"
When asked if he was the presidential candidate hinted at by Felicity Party leader Mahmut Arıkan, Ali Babacan said, "Our priority is to unite around the same goals. We want to increase the number of alliance parties that share our principles. But when forming this alliance, the issue of a common candidate will be discussed then. If there are those within the Felicity Party or other parties who have positive thoughts about me, I am honored. But before that, we need to change our alliance structure. In the coming months, we must concretize this alliance structure and present it to our nation."
Babacan added, "We came together not for elections, but to govern the country. We don’t want to leave this country to the main opposition, which is dealing with its own internal troubles."