Ex-Erdoğan Ally Babacan to Found New Party Backing Parliamentary System

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Ali Babacan, a former deputy PM and one of the founders of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has announced that they plan to found a new party by the end of the year.

"We will establish a legal entity by the end of 2019. Then the organization phase will begin," said Babacan, who has long been rumored to found a new party with former President Abdullah Gül, another founding member of the AKP.

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Saying that Turkey's most important problems are about economy, democracy and violations of human rights and the freedom of expression, Babacan asserted that these problems cannot be solved with the current administration.

Babacan argued that the presidential system, which Turkey switched to after a referendum in 2017, did not yield the intended results. "It is needed to return to a parliamentary system and establish the separation of powers."

"The presidential system is associated with Turkey's most severe economic crisis," he said, adding that the current economic programs do not "bring predictability" to the country.

"It was said that the coalitions will be no more, now alliances are formed even before the elections," he further said.

Babacan also said that former President Abdullah Gül, another founding member of the AKP, supports the new movement from outside as "an advisor or a big brother."

As for Ahmet Davutoğlu, a former PM who is working to found a separate party, Babacan said they are not looking to ally with him. (EKN/VK)