11.08.2026 12:30
Claims that Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who resigned from the CHP and continued his path independently, would join the AK Party ranks have stirred up Ankara's corridors. Most recently, it was alleged that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the pulse at his party's Sapanca camp by asking Izmir deputies, 'Shall we take Cemil Tugay in, what do you think?'
The political course of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who resigned from his party in June after deep disagreements with the administration of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who had taken the seat of the CHP General Chairmanship with the court's "absolute nullity" decision, continues to be a matter of curiosity.
HAD NOT JOINED THE NEW PARTY
Tugay, who decided not to join the New Party established under the leadership of Özgür Özel after his resignation, signaled that he had completely severed ties with his former colleagues with his clear statement, "I am not answering Özel's phone calls."
14 AUGUST CLAIM
After Tugay cut off communication with the opposition front, scenarios in political circles that he would join the AK Party began to be voiced much more loudly. While political circles pointed to August 14 for this surprise transition, the latest backstage information shared by journalist İsmail Küçükkaya on his social media account exploded onto the agenda.
"SHALL WE TAKE CEMİL TUGAY, WHAT DO YOU SAY?"
According to Küçükkaya's claim, a highly critical meeting took place during the AK Party consultation camp held in Sapanca at the end of June. It was alleged that in a meeting where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came together with the party's Izmir deputies, he probed the pulse of the organization and deputies with the question, "Shall we take Cemil Tugay, what do you say?" Stating that he had confirmed this critical information he obtained regarding the process, Küçükkaya used the expressions, "Since I learned this and then confirmed it, I have believed that President Tugay will move to the AK Party." Attention has now turned to this possible transfer, which is eagerly awaited to see whether it will happen on August 14.