Is the mayor of Yeniden Refah Party switching to AK Party? Statement came from Fatih Erbakan.

The leader of the Welfare Party, Fatih Erbakan, commented on the allegations that Mehmet Kasım Gürpınar, the Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, will join the AK Party, saying, "Gürpınar is currently a member of our Welfare Party and continues his duties as the mayor. We do not believe that such a thing will happen as the Welfare Party."

The leader of the Welfare Party, Fatih Erbakan, visited the leader of the Future Party, Ahmet Davutoğlu. A meeting between the delegations was held at the headquarters of the Future Party. After the meeting, Erbakan and Davutoğlu held a press conference.

"OPERATIONS AND TRANSFERS WERE MADE IN A POLITICALLY INAPPROPRIATE MANNER"

In his speech, Erbakan said, "Unfortunately, after the elections, the ruling party put pressure on the elected mayors of our Welfare Party in various ways. These are mostly small settlements, towns, and small districts. The support and assistance of the government are really important in these places. However, they unfortunately used them as a means of pressure." Erbakan claimed that the advantages of the Welfare Party's municipalities were taken away, saying, "Operations and transfers were made in a politically inappropriate manner in small settlements and against the will of the people. We call our Welfare Party the fastest-growing party in Turkey."

"GÜRPINAR IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF OUR WELFARE PARTY"

Responding to the allegations that Mehmet Kasım Gürpınar, the Mayor of Şanlıurfa and a member of the Welfare Party, will join the AK Party, Erbakan said, "Kasım Bey is a person who has been meeting with Murat Kurum and his family for a long time. They are still in talks, but we are not aware of the details of these talks. However, it is possible for such offers to be made. Because even the mayor of a small town in the remote corner of Anatolia is subjected to such operations, it is unthinkable for there not to be any offer or pressure on Kasım Gürpınar. Gürpınar is currently a member of our Welfare Party and continues his duties as the mayor. We do not believe that such a thing will happen."

Answering the question "Are you regretful for supporting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the presidential elections?" Erbakan said, "When we reached a political crossroads, we always responded to such moves and negative statements from the AK Party government by saying 'a cup of coffee has a forty-year memory.' The participation of our Welfare Party in the People's Alliance on May 14th and May 28th played a crucial role in the success of the People's Alliance."