ANKARA, Sept 14 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish former Prime Minister and Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Ahmet Davutoglu, announced his resignation from his party on Friday, after the AKP launched disciplinary action against him.
Speaking at a press conference, Davutoglu said, the current AKP administration has “departed from its founding principles and political missions.”
About the disciplinary actions the AKP launched against him, the politician stressed that, consultation channels within the party are closed, and there was no room for “well-intention criticism or advice.”
Asked about the possibility of forming a new party, Davutoglu said, “From now on, it is both a historical responsibility and a requirement of our obligation to our nation, to start a new political movement and set off on a new path, in line with the basic principles we mentioned.”
Six other AKP members also declared their resignation along with Davutoglu.
The AKP’s Central Executive Committee met last week, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, decided to take action to expel Davutoglu and three others because their actions allegedly violated the AKP’s rules.
Local media reported that, Davutoglu has been working to form a new political party. The former prime minister, who also served as foreign minister and a close aide of Erdogan for many years, has recently been critical of the AKP’s policies.– NNN-ANADOLU