AK Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala's 'early election' statement: There is no such thing on our agenda

AK Party Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala made statements regarding the current agenda in the Habertürk live broadcast and answered journalist Mehmet Akif Ersoy's questions.

When asked about the new names joining the party in the AK Party Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) and the claims that "AK Party is trying to find 360 in the Turkish Grand National Assembly", Ala said, "We do not govern Turkey with the sentences that non-political circles make up for speculation among themselves. This is a reality."

Ala stated that they would be very pleased to walk with those who see what is happening around Turkey and decide to walk with the AK Party and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Efkan Ala answered the question "Will there be another deputy who will join the AKP?" as follows: "It is possible. We are not in a bargaining. We are a big party and a strong team that tries to govern Turkey with the projects it has implemented since the day it was founded, the investments it has made, the vision and goals it has set. Those who want to contribute here contribute to Turkey. Of course, those who see this prefer to do politics together with the AKP, within the AKP."

"FOCUS OF GUARDIANSHIP HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED IN TURKEY"

When reminded of the statements of TÜSİAD executives and the investigation that was launched afterwards, Ala reminded that TÜSİAD is "a businessmen's association."

Pointing out that TÜSİAD has an important place in Turkey's business world, Ala said, "However, TÜSİAD's political record is not clean. In other words, whenever it has found a gap, it has evaluated the opportunity to intervene in politics, outside of politics. This is not the right thing to do. This used to yield results in the old Turkey. Now, at the stage we have brought, tutelage centers in Turkey have disappeared. Institutions are doing their own job. There are no tutelage centers that can guide governments with such subconscious calls from TÜSİAD."

Ala stated that he did not criticize TÜSİAD's statements regarding the economy and evaluated their statements regarding the lieutenants who were dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces as follows:

"What kind of a duty and responsibility does TÜSİAD, as a business association, have regarding the investigation of the General Staff within the military discipline of the Ministry of National Defense, regarding the investigation of a state institution? What kind of an oligarchy is this, I mean what comes to mind then? So it is not on the side of democracy, it is actually on the side of oligarchy."

"THEY STARTED THESE DISCUSSIONS THE DAY AFTER THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS"

When reminded of the opposition's statements that "the judiciary has been transformed into a political tool", the cases against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the discussions on his diploma and the claims that "there are attempts to obstruct him", Ala said, "After the municipal elections, 15-16 million people are expecting service in Istanbul."

"There were municipal elections, and the next day they started these discussions. There are still 5 years left until the presidential election. So we have a serious period of time ahead of us," Ala said:

"This is first and foremost disrespect for the will of 16 million people. Secondly, the internal party conflicts, the suspicions, they say these things among themselves and now they have become public knowledge. Whenever these things come to the agenda, they immediately make a fuss saying 'there is political interference, there is interference' to cover them up. Believe me, these are scenes that do not suit Turkey. Politics require seriousness. Politics requires a little effort and a little respect. As soon as a mayor is elected, it is necessary not to engage in childish things the next day. These discussions have started while we still have years left for the presidential election. Turkey's time is being wasted with these discussions."

When reminded of the claims that "they are hesitant about İmamoğlu's candidacy", Ala made the following remarks:

"The judiciary has a job to do, right? The judiciary has procedures. Has its objection rights been taken away from it within that judiciary? In other words, does it not have objection rights? What does this have to do with politics or other parties? In other words, whenever they encounter a problem or a case that suits them, why don't they continue it within their own procedures and take it to the political arena?"

"DOES THE OPPOSITION HAVE THE MAJORITY TO HOLD EARLY ELECTIONS AND MAKE DECISIONS?"

When asked about the opposition's expectation of early elections, Ala said, "There is no such thing on our agenda. Does the opposition have the majority to go to early elections and make decisions? There is no such possibility. We are not doing politics here to realize all the opposition's projects. We are doing politics to solve Turkey's problems."

When asked who would be a more compelling candidate in the presidential election, İmamoğlu or Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Ala said, "We are not talking about them. We are talking about service to Turkey. Service brings success and enables you to win the election. We have seen this by winning all the elections we have entered in these 22 years. If you talk about election issues before the election, it means you will not be doing anything."

"IT CAN BE PREDICTABLE THAT A CALL TO DEPOSIT WEAPONS WILL BE MADE, WE ARE ALSO EXPECTING THIS"

In response to the question "What are your expectations at the end of the process?" regarding the DEM Party delegation's meeting with terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ala said, "We are carrying out our work with the goal of a Turkey without terrorism. This is very clear. Because Türkiye must get rid of these shackles."

Expressing that they see what is happening around Turkey and that they have to bring Turkey together with its goals in a stable manner, Ala continued his words as follows:

"We want Turkey to continue on its path by ensuring the satisfaction of 85 million people. Children should not be wasted, our resources should not be wasted; people should focus on serving the world, Turkey and their own families. Let there be a Turkey without terrorism. A great price was paid. Our human resources and people were devastated, they lost their lives. Our martyrs gave their lives for this country. Many of our brothers became veterans, they suffered and that region suffered great hardship."

In response to Ersoy's question, "Are you expecting a call to lay down your arms?", Ala said, "The current environment is conducive to prediction. In other words, it can be predicted that this call to lay down your arms will be made, and we are expecting that too."

"I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISM"

Ala answered the question about whether the terrorist organization would comply with the call to lay down its arms as follows:

"Politics does not just wait for something. It works to do what is expected. We are not on the side of those who only wait. We have done our best so far in the fight against terrorism to have a Turkey without terrorism, but now, while that continues, we are also working to get rid of it completely. We want these works to yield results. Everyone has something to do here. In other words, everyone should do their best. Everyone should contribute, then results can most likely be achieved.

I am cautiously optimistic here. Cautious optimism, of course. Because there are many actors involved. There are foreign countries, there are intelligence agencies, there is the situation in the region. When we take all of this into consideration, Turkey, yes, we have achieved significant success in many areas under such difficult conditions. We are doing our best to achieve this and I hope that results will be achieved. Of course, if everyone does their part here, less costs will be paid."

When asked whether there was a difference between the DEM Party and AK Party's approaches to the issue, AK Party Deputy Chairman Ala said the following:

"Of course, each party has its own policy. I can easily say this; now, when compared to what happened in previous periods, there is a more comprehensive, broader optimism and support in the political world. This is a good thing. In other words, it is an important point to have a broad consensus, a consensus that a Turkey without terrorism is a Turkey where everyone will win, that it is in everyone's favor. It is also very important for Türkiye to have come this far."