# AK Parti political defections in Turkey

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ak-parti-political-defections-in-turkey
> Updated: 2026-09-10T11:34:00.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2.

Following detention orders for three council members during operations at the Üsküdar Municipality, four members of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) defected to join the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti).

This trend of political defections appears to be expanding. In Bahçelievler, Istanbul, three municipal council members—Cem Şafak, Barış Ural, and Levent Arısüt—joined the AK Parti during a ceremony at the Nurettin Topçu Cultural Center. This shift altered the political balance of the Bahçelievler Municipal Council, reducing CHP membership from 25 to 22 and increasing the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı) from 20 to 23 members, effectively securing a majority for the alliance.

In a broader development, the AK Parti announced that four additional mayors from different provinces are expected to join the party following an MKYK meeting. These expected defectors include the mayor of Foça in Izmir, the mayor of Sungu in Muş, and the mayors of Felahiye and Akkışla in Kayseri.

## Claims

- The AK Parti held a District Advisory Council meeting in Susuz to evaluate local investments and infrastructure projects. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Adem Çalkın, AK Parti Kars Deputy, attended the Susuz meeting. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Four mayors are expected to join the AK Parti following an MKYK meeting. (single source)
- Three of the joining mayors are from the CHP and one is from the Yeniden Refah Party. (single source)
- Saniye Bora Fıçı, Mayor of Foça, is expected to join the AK Parti. (single source)
- Şeref Güleser and Mustafa Dursun are expected to join the AK Parti after resigning from the CHP. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Bahçelievler Council majority shifts to AK Parti as 3 CHP members join

Three CHP municipal council members in Bahçelievler have joined the AK Parti, shifting the council majority to the People's Alliance. Four more mayors are expected to join the party soon.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ak-parti-holds-susuz-council-meeting-and-prepares-to-welcome-new-mayors

### 2026-09-05: Four CHP council members join AK Parti after Üsküdar operations

Four CHP council members joined the AK Parti following police operations and detention orders involving three members at the Üsküdar Municipality.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/four-chp-council-members-join-ak-parti-after-skdar-operations

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Cite as: AK Parti political defections in Turkey. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ak-parti-political-defections-in-turkey