# Turkish party politics and mayor realignments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ak-party-local-outreach-in-turkey > Updated: 2026-08-02T05:46:00.000Z. Sources: 80. Developments: 13. By mid‑2026 internal tensions resurfaced across Turkey’s major parties. In Afyonkarahisar, AK Party provincial chairman Turgay Şahin stepped down, thanking President Erdoğan and noting that “positions are temporary, ideals are eternal.” Around the same time, Gebeceler mayor İsa Atay also quit the AK Party after being accused of an extramarital affair, which he denied and framed as fabricated slander. Meanwhile, CHP figures continued to rally against investigations. Party group chairman Özgür Özel addressed supporters in Adana, vowing to keep the party on the streets despite a lack of resources, while Istanbul MP Zeynel Emre announced plans to seek an extraordinary congress and condemned recent arrests and alleged corruption. The splintering of the CHP accelerated, with additional mayors and council members—Burhaniye’s Ali Kemal Deveciler, Kırıkkale’s Ahmet Önal, and Derince’s Sertif Gökçe—leaving the CHP to join the newly formed Yeni Parti. Özel reiterated his promise to secure Alevi “rızalık” and highlighted the party’s opposition to the “mutlak butlan” court decision that sparked the wave of resignations. ## Claims - Cemil Tugay resigned from the CHP on 18 June. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Cemil Tugay’s resignation was due to opposition to “absolute nullity” governance, not ideological reasons. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Cemil Tugay stated he will continue his mayoral duties independently. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Cemil Tugay met IZBETON workers at the Bornova construction site and gave a speech. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Cemil Tugay said, “I will never betray this country.” (corroborated by 9 sources) - Cemil Tugay denied rumors that he would join the AKP. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Yeni Parti held a groundbreaking ceremony for a cultural centre and cemevi in Mamak. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Yeni Parti was founded by Özgür Özel. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Özgür Özel addressed the party defections at the opening of the Mamak cultural centre and cemevi. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Ahmet Önal resigned from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and joined the Yeni Parti. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Eren Ali Bingöl resigned from CHP and joined AKP. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The defections were described as occurring during a historic turning point for Turkey. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-02: Turkish MP Ümit Dikbayir set to join AK Party Sakarya MP Ümit Dikbayir, former İYİ Party and CHP member, will join the ruling AK Party on 14 August, marking a notable party switch in Turkish politics. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-mp-mit-dikbayir-set-to-join-ak-party ### 2026-08-01: Yeni Parti draws former CHP officials in political shift Former CHP officials—including mayors Ali Kemal Deveciler, Ahmet Önal and Sertif Gökçe—have joined Yeni Parti, whose leader Özgür Özel promises Alevi rızalık and marks 500 days since the 2023 coup attempt. 33 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/erkezky-mayor-vahap-akay-resigns-from-turkeys-chp-party ### 2026-07-31: Turkey's political reshuffle: Ümit Dikbayır set to join AKP as CHP grapples with internal crisis Ümit Dikbayır will join the AKP on 14 August after leaving the CHP, while the CHP’s closed group meeting saw low attendance, protest absences and a dispute over parliamentary clerk seats. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kemal-kldarolus-chp-leadership-meeting-sees-19-mps-absent ### 2026-07-30: Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay Refutes AKP Switch Rumors Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay, who left the CHP on 18 June, denies rumors of joining the AKP, pledges loyalty to Turkey, and affirms he will continue serving independently after meeting IZBETON workers. 27 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/izmir-mayor-cemil-tugay-meets-izbeton-workers-denies-akp-joining-rumors ### 2026-07-12: CHP leaders Özgür Özel and Zeynel Emre pledge continued resistance amid investigations CHP’s Özgür Özel and MP Zeynel Emre vow to keep the party active on the streets, criticize investigations and arrests, and seek an extraordinary congress in Turkey. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chp-leaders-zgr-zel-and-zeynel-emre-pledge-continued-resistance-amid-investigations ### 2026-07-09: Turkey's İYİ Party and CHP leaders clash over resignations and council dispute İYİ Party leader Mısırlıoğlu calls for mayor and AK Party official resignations in Afyonkarahisar, while CHP’s Batmaz condemns Faruk Kanca’s remarks in Trabzon and seeks legal action. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-iyi-party-and-chp-leaders-clash-over-resignations-and-council-dispute ### 2026-07-06: AK Party leaders Turgay Şahin and İsa Atay resign amid disputes AK Party’s Afyonkarahisar chief Turgay Şahin and Gebeceler mayor İsa Atay resigned, citing party consultations and dismissing scandal allegations, respectively. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-mayors-attacked-in-dinar-and-damal ### 2026-07-03: CHP leader Özgür Özel says party will become next government in Kastamonu CHP chairman Özgür Özel visited Kastamonu, highlighted forest villagers’ hardships, condemned the ruling party’s tactics, and said CHP will become the next governing party. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chp-leader-zgr-zel-says-party-will-become-next-government-in-kastamonu ### 2026-07-03: CHP Ankara leaders clash over party control and defections CHP Ankara deputy chief Yüksel Işık denounced a notice to vacate the party’s building, while former CHP mayor Mesut Özarslan explained his switch to the AK Party after a clash with party leader Özel. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chp-ankara-leaders-clash-over-party-control-and-defections ### 2026-06-27: Anadolu Birliği Partisi says 86 MPs and 74 provincial heads will join ABP chief Bedri Yalçın announced that 86 MPs and roughly 74 provincial heads are set to join the party, denying reports of any conditions involving Mansur Yavaş. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/anadolu-birlii-partisi-says-86-mps-and-74-provincial-heads-will-join ### 2026-06-16: CHP leader Özgür Özel confronts party leadership amid internal disputes CHP leader Özgür Özel condemns the suspended party leadership, demands a congress for any settlement, and plans rallies; mayor Mansur Yavaş denies joining a new party, saying he will announce any role publicly. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-chp-mayor-mansur-yava-rejects-new-party-rumors-amid-internal-dispute ### 2026-06-16: Turkey's municipal leaders hold citizen forums and announce local projects Turkish mayors in Samsun, Kayseri and Istanbul reported citizen‑focused projects, while AK Party Istanbul hit 2.16 million members and a new women’s branch was launched. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ak-party-boosts-istanbul-membership-to-216-million-amid-local-outreach ### 2026-06-13: AK Party activities in Turkey: Trabzon meeting and alleged mayor defection to ruling party Turkey's AK Party held a regional meeting in Trabzon and discussed local projects, while rumors swirl about Keçiören mayor Mesut Özarslan possibly joining the party and Ankara mayor Mansur Yavaş seeking contact 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ak-party-activities-in-turkey-trabzon-meeting-and-alleged-mayor-defection-to-ruling-party --- Cite as: Turkish party politics and mayor realignments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ak-party-local-outreach-in-turkey