[REVISION HISTORY]

Cemil Tugay joins AK Parti amid İzmir protests and disputes

Updated 21 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-11 13:15 UTC → 2026-10-12 05:59 UTC · added ~~removed~~

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay has officially joined the AK Parti following his resignation from the Republican People's Party (CHP). During a meeting in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented Tugay with his new party badge. Tugay stated his decision was motivated by a desire to serve the people of İzmir, remarking, ‘En iyi siyasetin hizmet olduğunu anladım’ (I realized that the best politics is service). Tugay further clarified that his transition followed discussions with Minister Murat Kurum and President Erdoğan, driven by the need for central government support to address critical regional issues, including urban transformation and earthquake risks. He specifically identified a meeting with Minister Kurum as a turning point and noted that the President’s familiarity with İzmir’s local issues, such as the financial debt of İZBETON and urban transformation in Karabağlar, influenced his decision. He emphasized his confidence in President Erdoğan, describing him as a respectful and supportive leader. This move has triggered intense political backlash. YENİ Parti leader Özgür Özel has labeled Tugay a ‘traitor’ and a ‘puppet,’ alleging the transition was forced through ‘threats and blackmail’ related to legal investigations. In İzmir, protests have been organized by groups including the CHP and HKP, who characterize the defection as a betrayal of the people's will. Following the defection, AK Parti Provincial Chairman Bilal Saygılı announced that the party is working in cooperation with Mayor Tugay to address regional issues, such as the Great Channel Project and wastewater treatment upgrades. Amidst the political volatility, rumors circulated regarding other municipal leaders; however, the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) has issued multiple formal statements denying claims that Mayor Mansur Yavaş would join the AK Parti, asserting that ‘loyalty to the voter's will is the honor of politics.’

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