Political party defections

16 – 30 September 2026 Updated 30 Sept, 11:19

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Nine mayors and six council members join AK Party

Nine district mayors and six CHP members of Ataşehir Municipal Council joined the AK Party at yesterday's badge ceremony. Five of the mayors had been elected from CHP, three from the New Welfare Party and one from İYİ Party.

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Source spectrum StateConservativeIndependentIndep.OppositionOpp.Foreign
+3: Evrensel, Halk TV and Cumhuriyet +4: BirGün, Evrensel, Halk TV and Cumhuriyet

Politics Published 30 Sept, 11:19

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

9 mayors join AK Party as Erdoğan pins badges

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned badges on 9 mayors joining the AK Party at the Expanded Provincial Chairs Meeting. The mayors switched from CHP, the New Welfare Party and the İYİ Party.

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Source spectrum StateConservativeIndependentIndep.OppositionOpp.Foreign
+4: Milliyet, Hürriyet, Yeni Şafak and CNN Türk +5: Sabah, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Yeni Şafak and CNN Türk +2: Halk TV and Yeniçağ

Politics Updated 29 Sept, 21:52
9 mayors from 3 parties to join AK Party

Nine mayors, 5 from the CHP, 3 from the New Welfare Party and 1 from the İYİ Party, are expected to join the AK Party at today's ceremony.

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Source spectrum StateConservativeIndependentIndep.OppositionOpp.Foreign
+4: Takvim, Haber7, Yeni Akit and Star +5: Sabah, Takvim, Haber7, Yeni Akit and Star +6: Cumhuriyet, soL Haber, BirGün, Yeniçağ, Muhalif and Aykırı +7: Evrensel, Cumhuriyet, soL Haber, BirGün, Yeniçağ, Muhalif and Aykırı

Politics Updated 29 Sept, 18:37

Friday, 25 September 2026

CHP's Sarı asks whether the 39 mayors Özel selected joined AK Party

CHP spokesperson Müslim Sarı asked YENİ Party leader Özgür Özel whether he would engage in self-criticism, saying, "The 39 mayors you selected have joined AK Party." Sarı also made statements regarding the fund crisis.

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Source spectrum StateConservativeIndependentIndep.OppositionOpp.Foreign

Politics Published 25 Sept, 14:48

Saturday, 19 September 2026

Public gathering held in Foça against mayor's switch to AK Party

Reacting to Foça Mayor Saniye Fıçı, elected from CHP in the 2024 local elections, resigning and joining the AK Party, citizens gathered in the square upon a call by the "Foça Defends Its Democratic Will Initiative" and called for her resignation.

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Source spectrum StateConservativeIndependentIndep.OppositionOpp.Foreign
+3: Halk TV, BirGün and Yeniçağ +4: Cumhuriyet, Halk TV, BirGün and Yeniçağ

Politics Updated 19 Sept, 20:12

Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Tahsin Usta, who switched to AK Party, appointed deputy mayor in Üsküdar

Tahsin Usta, a council member who switched from CHP to AK Party ahead of a deputy mayoral election in Üsküdar, was appointed deputy mayor by Acting Mayor Dündar Ziya Gültekin. Usta will oversee the Disaster Affairs, Health Affairs and Social Services directorates.

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Source spectrum StateConservativeIndependentIndep.OppositionOpp.Foreign
+4: BirGün, Sözcü, Yeniçağ and Cumhuriyet +5: Halk TV, BirGün, Sözcü, Yeniçağ and Cumhuriyet

Politics Updated 17 Sept, 01:17