The New Welfare Party has decided not to attend the AK Party congress.

21.02.2025 15:14

The Vice President of the New Welfare Party, Suat Kılıç, stated, "We have decided not to participate in the 8th Ordinary Congress of the AK Party. As the New Welfare Party, we will not fall into the second-hand market of politics, nor will we walk alongside those who have." The New Welfare Party was among the 9 parties to which the AK Party sent invitations for the grand congress.

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Deputy Chairman of the New Welfare Party, Suat Kılıç, made statements regarding the participation decisions for the 8th Ordinary Congress of the AK Party at a press conference held at the party's headquarters.

"YOU TOOK THE MUNICIPALITIES YOU COULDN'T WIN AT THE BALLOT BOX AT THE TABLE"

Kılıç stated, "As the New Welfare Party, we have decided not to participate in the AK Party's 8th Ordinary Congress. I am holding this press conference to share the headlines of this will of our Central Executive Board and our Chairman Dr. Fatih Erbakan with you. The games played on the mayors of the New Welfare Party during the process following the local elections on March 31, 2024, have exceeded the limits of tolerance with pressure and intimidation policies. Even on the Wednesday they sent the invitation to the 8th Ordinary Congress, the AK Party badges were personally pinned by President Erdoğan to the six mayors who were separated from our party through midnight operations during the group meeting of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The President, who called our mayors, is the same President Erdoğan who pinned the badges. In this case, why should we participate in the AK Party Congress? Is it to say congratulations for taking the municipalities you couldn't win at the ballot box at the table? I ask again. In this case, why should we participate in the AK Party Congress? You took the mayors you couldn't get at the ballot box at the table, is it to say congratulations for that?"

"WE WILL NOT FALL INTO THE SECOND-HAND MARKET OF POLITICS"

Kılıç continued his remarks; "Competing with the state's resources, money, stamps, tools, and project contributions is impossible. You also know that the money, resources, and promises you suppress will not benefit you. Many of the mayors you transferred by trampling all ethical principles of politics are not the names you did not nominate for various reasons before the March 31 elections, are they? This current, which forces those elected by the will of the people to leave their party and transfer, will be referred to as the second-hand market in politics and will be remembered with shame. As the New Welfare Party, we will not fall into the second-hand market of politics, nor will we walk alongside those who do. We will never stand by those who forcibly separate mayors elected by the free will of our voters through midnight operations and the power of the state. The day you understand that politics is not just about numbers, and that justice and truth cannot be found in the second-hand market, it will be too late for you. If there was a demand for the old, the flea market would be blessed. Our old ones, congratulations to you. May the values you have worn out with your thoughts and actions be entrusted to us. As the New Welfare Party community, we continue to walk step by step towards power with our honest, principled, and ethical understanding of politics against the national will theft happening in front of the eyes of the nation, and we will continue to do so."

"THE SIN GALLERY OF TÜSİAD CHAIRMEN IS FULL"

Kılıç also expressed his views regarding the investigation into TÜSİAD chairmen, stating, "We have expressed that we do not find it right for the TÜSİAD chairmen to be taken into custody by the police. We also do not find it right to impose a travel ban, the address is clear. Those who are called will come and give their statements. However, the sin gallery of TÜSİAD chairmen is also full. During the February 28 period, they did everything possible to overthrow the Welfare Path government and to end the premiership of Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan. TÜSİAD has unfortunately never been an institution that stands by democracy in Turkey at all times and in all places. Today, the archive of TÜSİAD, which collaborated with the guardianship centers to overthrow the government in the February 28 period, walks with it. Today, TÜSİAD has become an institution that makes statements according to its own conjuncture, once every six months or once a year, in situations that suit it. TÜSİAD can make statements once a month in Turkey, it can make statements once a week, it can make statements with this level of severity. But it should not be the parameter or the backdrop of the presidential election or the political agenda. Their detention is wrong, their being taken away by the police is wrong. It is wrong to impose a travel ban after their statements are taken. But TÜSİAD's inaction, indifference, and apathy, only sticking its head out of the sand once or twice a year, is also extremely wrong," he stated.

NINE PARTIES RECEIVED INVITATIONS

As preparations for the congress to be held in Ankara are completed, invitations were sent to nine political parties. Among the parties that will participate in the congress are the Great Unity Party (BBP), the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR), the Good Party, the Homeland Party, the New Welfare Party (YRP), and the Felicity Party. However, invitations were not sent to the Future Party, the DEVA Party, and the DEM Party.