İzmir Mayor Cemil Tugay joined the ruling Justice and Development Party, led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Wednesday after leaving the opposition, pledging to work to address the city’s problems and rebuild it. His move was announced during the party’s parliamentary group meeting in the capital Ankara, amid celebratory scenes broadcast live on television.
Erdoğan announced the mayor’s joining the party during the meeting, saying that Cemil Tugay was “joining the Justice and Development Party family today”. The hall was packed with people who applauded and enthusiastically cheered the Turkish president from the start of his speech, chanting: “İzmir is proud of you.” Tugay said: “We are setting out to revive İzmir, solve its problems and almost completely rebuild it.”
We love İzmir. We hope this decision will benefit everyone
The ruling party’s expanding influence in İzmir
Tugay’s move gives the ruling party a broader political presence in İzmir, located on the Aegean coast and regarded as a secular stronghold that has been governed by the opposition social democratic forces for 27 years. Control of the city municipality represents a significant political gain for Erdoğan, given its status and population size.
Tugay’s resignation and political career
He resigned from the Republican People’s Party in June, against the backdrop of a controversial court decision that plunged the party into crisis and ended with the ousting of its leader, Özgür Özel. After leaving the leadership of the Republican People’s Party, Özel founded Yeni Parti, or the New Party, which became one of Turkey’s leading opposition parties.
Tugay did not join the party founded by Özel after leaving the Republican People’s Party, instead confirming at the time that he wanted to continue his political career as an independent. During the summer, speculation grew that Tugay might move to the Justice and Development Party, but he repeatedly denied it. He said in January that his mother would disown him and his wife would leave him if he joined the ruling party.
Tugay’s move amid pressure on the opposition
His latest decision came after weeks of continuing rumours that he intended to change his party affiliation. The İzmir mayor’s move comes as Turkey’s opposition faces a series of detentions and trials targeting mayors and elected officials. In parallel with these measures, more opposition officials have recently moved to the ruling party.
The Medyascope news website reported last week, before Tugay’s move, that at least 17 opposition mayors had joined the Justice and Development Party. Sources also said that the Republican People’s Party could see further resignations, including from MPs and mayors.
At a Yeni Parti meeting in parliament on Tuesday, Özel condemned what he described as a campaign of pressure against elected officials in İzmir, one day before Tugay’s official announcement that he had joined the ruling party.
