Heavy accusation against AK Party! First words about the resignation that shook the party from Erbakan.

The leader of the Welfare Party, Fatih Erbakan, accused the AK Party of "political blackmail" in a written statement regarding allegations that mayors elected from his party will switch to the AK Party. Erbakan stated, "It is neither politically nor morally appropriate to hinder the activities of our Welfare Party mayors, render them unable to serve, and try to transfer our mayors to the AK Party by means of political blackmail, disregarding the will that our people demonstrated on March 31."

Emrullah Akpunar, who was elected as the mayor of the Aziziye district in the center of Erzurum from the Welfare Party in the Local Administration General Elections on March 31, resigned from his party.

"I PARTICULARLY WANT IT TO BE KNOWN THAT..."

Akpunar, who announced his resignation decision on his social media account, said, "Dear fellow citizens; I would like to share with you the information that I have resigned from the Welfare Party, to which I am a member, as I deemed necessary. There is one particular point that I especially want to be known, which is that our motto is to serve our fellow citizens wherever we are and in whichever field we compete. May God make it a means to goodness, God willing."

HAMZA DAĞ: 15 MAYORS AND 2 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ARE JOINING THE AK PARTY

While Akpunar's alleged resignation caused a sensation, AK Party Deputy Chairman Hamza Dağ announced during the day that there will be new members joining the party. Hamza Dağ stated, "There are 15 joinings in the mayorship. There are also 2 as members of parliament. There are some meetings today, so there may be some developments."

It was claimed that among the individuals expected to join the AK Party are Kasım Gülpınar, who ran in the election from the Welfare Party and was elected as the mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, and Emrullah Akpunar, who was elected as the mayor of the Aziziye district in the center of Erzurum from the Welfare Party.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM FATIH ERBAKAN

The leader of the Welfare Party, Fatih Erbakan, stated that the mayors elected in the March 31 Local Elections were "facing the political blackmail methods of the AK Party government." Erbakan said, "Those who hold the power of the government are showing that they will not allow our mayors elected from our Welfare Party to serve by using the public power; they imply and express that they will provide the necessary means for the services in return for our mayors resigning from our party and joining their ranks."

"OUR MAYORS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE AK PARTY THROUGH POLITICAL BLACKMAIL"

Fatih Erbakan stated, "Hindering the activities of our Welfare Party mayors, rendering them unable to serve, and trying to transfer our mayors to the AK Party through political blackmail, disregarding the will that our people demonstrated on March 31, is neither politically nor morally appropriate. At this point, our people will certainly not forgive those who change sides for personal gain, interests, and comforts by disregarding the people's choice and will. Such political operations will never be able to stop the rise of our Welfare Party, which has been the recipient of the great trust of our people, breaking membership records every month and progressing steadily towards its goal, as Turkey's fastest-growing political party."