In the event of an election by the end of 2020, separate parties founded by the two former allies of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will receive no more than 4 percent support, Konda’s Murat Sarı told news site T24.
Sarı’s statements arrive amid increasing reports of new political movements headed by one-time allies of Erdoğan, such as former prime minister Davutoğlu and former deputy prime minister in charge of the economy Babacan. The former AKP bigwigs have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of Turkey’s strongman, who gained sweeping executive powers with a presidential system that began last year.
Babacan earlier this month confirmed his plans for the formation of a new political movement when he announced his resignation, in which he emphasized Turkey’s need for change. However, whether he will join forces with Davutoğlu, criticised for being acquiescent to Erdoğan, remains to be seen.
Sarı said political cooperation between the pair is unlikely as they hold differing views.
“As you know Ali Babacan acts with [former president] Abdullah Gül. They both served as foreign ministers at some point… It’s hard to say whether they would unite, but if the establish separate parties they will disappear, separately,’’ Sarı said.
The Konda head also said a political party formed by Davutoğlu and Babacan would receive support from the same voter base as opposition nationalist Good (İYİ) Party.
“They will garner their votes from the centre-right which identify with conservative views,’’ Sarı said.
Good Party was formed by former members of ruling AKP-ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in 2017. The party entered into an alliance with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) ahead of Turkey’s 2018 general election.