, has resigned from the party, citing its failure to fulfill its founding goals and maintain effective communication, amid broader speculation that some opposition lawmakers may be considering defection to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).){kind=link}
Mustafa Yeneroğlu, an İstanbul MP and one of the founders of the opposition Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), has resigned from the party, citing its failure to fulfill its founding goals and maintain effective communication, amid broader speculation that some opposition lawmakers may be considering defection to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Yeneroğlu, who served as DEVA’s vice chair responsible for legal and justice policies for over four years, emphasized in the resignation statement he posted on X that internal stagnation and missed opportunities to engage with the public had hindered the party’s progress.
He pointed to the party’s disappointing performance in the 2024 local elections, where DEVA garnered only 0.41 percent of the vote, as a turning point.
“We failed to maintain the political momentum required to earn the trust of the people. Chronic issues within the party deepened following the general election, leaving our founding aspirations unfulfilled,” Yeneroğlu stated.
DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan acknowledged Yeneroğlu’s contributions and expressed regret over his resignation. Babacan emphasized that their friendship would endure and ruled out the possibility of party members rejoining the AKP, calling such moves inconsistent with DEVA’s principles.
The resignation follows a similar departure by Mustafa Nedim Yamalı of the Future Party earlier this week. Yamalı joined the AKP ranks the very next day, fueling rumors that some opposition members, including those from the Islamist Felicity Party, may defect to the ruling party.
According to observers, such shifts could weaken Turkey’s opposition bloc, which has faced criticism for its inability to effectively challenge Erdoğan’s dominance. Yeneroğlu, however, pledged to continue advocating for democracy and human rights