Former Turkish Foreign Minister Exits Ruling Party

Former Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and his supporters announced their departure from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) during a press conference held today, as reported in a video shared on Davutoğlu's Twitter page.

Davutoğlu criticized the ruling party for changing its principles and values and stated, "The current leaders of the party have erased the AKP from 18 years ago." He expressed disappointment regarding the proposal made on September 2 to remove him and his supporters, saying, "We are leaving a party for which we have invested years of effort and enthusiasm."

Addressing the Turkish people, he declared, "Signs are transient, but the values that make our lives and struggle meaningful are enduring. Parties have significance as long as they serve these values. We will continue to be the protectors and advocates of these values."

Davutoğlu justified their decision to leave the ruling party by citing the impossibility of changing the internal system and implementing their declared principles and objectives within it. Upon exiting the ruling party, he announced plans to initiate a new political movement, stating, "In the context of our declared principles, starting a new political movement and forging a new path is both a historic responsibility for us and a necessity for our obligations to our nation."