Muharrem Ince’s resignation heats up political arena

who launched the Homeland Movement on September MUHARREM INCE, 4 last year after harshly criticizing the Republican People’s Party (CHP) President Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the party’s policies after the 37th •rdinary Meeting in July, has resigned from CHP. Ince, who has been involved in the CHP for the last 42 years and ran as CHP’s candidate in the 2018 presidential elections, described the party as a ‘shell’ of its former self when he parted ways.

Meanwhile, the flurry of meetings continues both on the government and opposition fronts. The President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan is holding talks to extend the People’s Alliance (CUMHUR) while he tackles the changes in the Constitution and the Law on Political Parties with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahceli. •n the opposition side, contacts between Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Meral Aksener, Mithat Sancar, Temel Karamollaoglu, Ahmet Davutoglu, Ali Babacan, Mustafa Destici and Gultekin Uysal has drawn attention. The politics will further heat up with Muharrem Ince launching his own party and joining the fray.

Ince voiced harsh criticism toward the CHP administration and the party’s policies. The intra-party democracy is destroyed, he said. “With whom do I part ways? I part ways with those who beg the U.S. for democracy, those who assign administrators calling Ataturk a heathen, those who talk about Mustafa Kemal but not Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, those who defend Gulenists and Sorosists,” Ince said. The CHP spokesman, Faik •ztrak, accused Ince of speaking with CUMHUR’s voice.

WILL THERE BE ANY ATTENDANCE TO THE INCE’S PARTY?

The name, logo and headquarter of the party to be set up are all ready, according to Ince. And he will launch the organization in at least 60 provinces by the middle of summer. Ince announced his target as ‘50+1’. The party will never align with CUMHUR and the criticism about splitting the votes is unfounded, according to Ince. With Mehmet Ali Celebi, Huseyin Avni Aksoy and •zcan •zel, who resigned from the CHP and joined the Homeland Movement, Ince’s party will have the highest number of deputies after the AKP, CHP, the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and IYI Party, according to Inci. Ince’s claim sparked rumors of new resignations from the CHP and IYI Party.

Following resignations from the CHP, rumors are spreading of possible resignations from the IYI Party after the list crises arising in the 2nd •rdinary Meeting. Aksener’s appointment of Aytun Ciray, who was said to be considering resigning, as principal consultant was seen as a move to prevent possible resignations. There are also claims that Adana deputy Ismail Koncuk, who resigned from the IYI Party, will also now join to the Ince’s party in the coming days.