Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Tuesday addressed former allies who are engaged in efforts to establish new political parties, stating that his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would continue to get stronger, according to Turkish media.
“We won’t let them break our fraternity,” Erdoğan told party members in a video conference call during a gathering for Eid Al-Adha.
Former AKP heavyweights Ali Babacan and Ahmet Davutoğlu are in talks to separately establish new political parties.
In a statement on Thursday Babacan said he is working with colleagues to bring together a staff that is strongly representative and inclusive, underlining the need for new strategies and plans required to overcome the problems the country is facing.
He is supported by Turkey’s former president, Abdullah Gül, while avoiding former Prime Minister Davutoğlu.
Erdoğan had previously threatened them, saying that “those who betray will pay a heavy price.”
According to the latest poll, Babacan’s party would garner around 8 percent while Davutoğlu is expected to get 3 percent support.