After Turkish President and Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the need for rejuvenation in his party and asked members not sharing the same commitments to step back, the fifth resignation has come from Aksaray provincial chairman Abdulkadir Karatay, CNN Türk reported on Friday.
Erdoğan signaled a large-scale shakeup in the party before preparations are launched for the 2019 presidential elections.
Following Erdoğan’s remarks about the need for renewal, the Ağrı, Hakkari, Şırnak and Muş provincial chairmen resigned from their posts.
The Aksaray provincial chairman said he would continue to work for AKP voluntarily.
Speaking during a meeting in Giresun province on Aug. 9, Erdoğan said, “There are some AKP members who have gotten tired and lost their way during the 16 years of the party’s rule.”
“Starting with our organizations, we are determined to bring serious rejuvenation and change to the party,” he said.
Erdoğan retook the party’s leadership at an extraordinary congress on May 21, 2017 after a referendum on April 16 permitted him to serve as a president with links to a political party.
