11.08.2026 18:10
New Welfare Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan visited Felicity Party Chairman Mahmut Arıkan. Speaking after the meeting, Erbakan stated that they held negotiations regarding the steps the two parties could take together in the upcoming period, and said they exchanged ideas with the goal of ensuring the National Vision is represented more strongly in Parliament and brought to power. Arıkan, on the other hand, said, 'Of course, there will certainly be parties and new names that will join this unity of ours.'
Fatih Erbakan, Chairman of the New Welfare Party, visited Mahmut Arıkan, Chairman of the Felicity Party, at the Felicity Party Headquarters. It was stated that the main agenda of the meeting was the formation of a new alliance model in the opposition, and it was learned that the contact between the two parties was considered an important step in the search for a new alliance.
ERBAKAN VISITED ARIKAN
Fatih Erbakan, Chairman of the New Welfare Party, came to the Felicity Party Headquarters and met with Chairman Mahmut Arıkan.
It was reported that during the meeting of the two leaders, in addition to political developments in Turkey, the new cooperation and alliance options planned to be established among opposition parties were discussed. The meeting was interpreted as a sign that the contacts between the Felicity Party and the New Welfare Party could be carried to a new dimension.
ERBAKAN: WE HELD OUR NEGOTIATIONS ON HOW WE CAN TAKE SOME COMMON STEPS TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE
In the joint press conference held after the meeting, YRP Chairman Fatih Erbakan, one of the two leaders, made statements, saying, "We held our negotiations on how the New Welfare Party and the Felicity Party can take some common steps together in the upcoming period. We exchanged ideas and consulted on how to carry out a work that will open Turkey's way, give hope to our nation, ensure stronger representation of the National Vision in Parliament, and, God willing, pave the way for the National Vision's rule."
ARIKAN: PARTIES THAT WILL JOIN THIS UNION WILL CERTAINLY INCLUDE NEW NAMES
Arıkan, on the other hand, used the following statements: "We evaluated these issues with the esteemed Chairman. What we are currently discussing is not preserving our existing votes or slightly increasing them, but rather building unions that will open up the constricted politics in Turkey and lead to the realization of a great Turkey once again. Of course, there will certainly be parties and new names that will join this union. Mr. Babacan and other politicians will be leaders and political parties we want to walk together with in the upcoming period. I repeat, the goal here will be to open up the constricted politics, to serve as an address for the electorate referred to as undecided, and to ensure the construction of a great Turkey once again."
NEW ALLIANCE MODEL ON THE TABLE
An alternative alliance model that could include the Felicity Party, the DEVA Party, and also the New Welfare Party has been discussed in political circles for some time. Fatih Erbakan's visit to Arıkan stood out as one of the significant contacts between the two parties within the scope of this search.
Before the meeting of the two leaders, Erbakan, Arıkan, and Babacan had also come together at the Turkish Grand National Assembly yesterday. In response to the question of a possible alliance, which came to the agenda after the three leaders stood side by side, Erbakan had said that the exchange of ideas between the parties should continue strongly and, if necessary, concrete steps should be taken together.
ARIKAN: WE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OUR NEW COMRADES-IN-ARMS
Felicity Party Chairman Mahmut Arıkan also gave a remarkable message regarding the possibility of an alliance after the same gathering. Using the words, "We will try to increase the number of new comrades-in-arms who will join us," Arıkan kept the door open for new political collaborations.
HE HAD SAID: "WE HAVE A CANDIDATE THAT TURKEY WILL SAY 'FINALLY' TO"
Arıkan had previously announced that his party was working on a presidential candidate and said that when the candidate was announced to the public, Turkey would say "Finally."
To the question of who the candidate was, Arıkan had replied, "Let's keep it under wraps for now so that the population in Silivri doesn't increase by one more."
Erbakan's latest meeting with Arıkan drew attention because it took place at a time when the search for a new alliance in the opposition has come back to the agenda.