12.10.2026 16:40
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Büşra Özdemir responded to claims that she would switch to the AK Party at the council meeting. Özdemir, saying “I do politics under the roof of the Republican People's Party,” said that the news about her had become “very exhausting” over the past week. The party's new spokesperson, Zeynel Emre, also announced that Özdemir called Chairman Özgür Özel and denied the allegations.
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Büşra Özdemir spoke for the first time about the long-running allegations that she would change parties. Özdemir asked people to act “more politely and thoughtfully.”
SHE RESPONDED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING
The October ordinary council meeting of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, convened with a 132-item agenda, was chaired by Deputy Mayor Büşra Özdemir. At the meeting, addressing the allegations that she would switch to the AK Party, Özdemir stated that she normally does not respond to news about herself, but this time she felt the need to make a statement.
“IT HAS BEEN A VERY TIRING PROCESS FOR A WEEK”
Özdemir said, “In recent days, in fact for the last 15 months, there has been a lot of news about me. For a week now, it has begun to become a very tiring process.” Recalling that she came to office in a difficult period, Özdemir used the expressions, “I already came to office in a sufficiently difficult period; I took over a difficult task.”
“I AM DOING POLITICS UNDER THE CHP UMBRELLA”
Underlining that she would not change parties, Özdemir said, “I am doing politics under the roof of the Republican People's Party as Antalya Metropolitan Deputy Mayor.” Özdemir said, “I approach things very politely. I ask people to act a little more politely, a little more thoughtfully.”
“LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT OF POLITICS”
Arguing that local government should be independent of politics, Özdemir said that heavy politics is the job of members of parliament and district party chairs. Stating that they have developed positive dialogue with ministries, provincial directorates and the Antalya Governorate, Özdemir said, “Our responsibility is to serve this city, because we were elected to serve this city.”
NEW PARTY: CALLED ÖZEL AND DENIED IT
New Party Spokesperson Zeynel Emre also announced that Özdemir had met with General Chairman Özgür Özel. Emre said, “As of this morning, she reached our General Chairman; they spoke on some occasion.” Regarding the allegations that Özdemir would join the AK Party, Emre said, “She personally stated that there is no such situation,” and reported that the allegations were not true.