Turkey: Babacan Launches New Party, Vows to Restore Democracy

Babacan has been working to establish a political party since he resigned from the ruling AKP last year (AFP)
Babacan has been working to establish a political party since he resigned from the ruling AKP last year (AFP)
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Turkey: Babacan Launches New Party, Vows to Restore Democracy

Babacan has been working to establish a political party since he resigned from the ruling AKP last year (AFP)
Babacan has been working to establish a political party since he resigned from the ruling AKP last year (AFP)

Turkey’s former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan announced on Wednesday the launch of his new political party, the Democracy and Progress Party, also known as DEVA, which translates as “cure” or “remedy."

Babacan vowed that his party would try to bring parliamentary democracy back to Turkey.

“We will not let these sorrows get bigger. It’s not the time to lose hope. It’s time to take responsibility for Turkey. It’s time for democracy and progress for Turkey. If you are looking for commiseration, we are the remedy,” he said.

Babacan announced his resignation from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) on July 8, 2019, citing “differences” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He also revealed a list of 90 founding members of his new party ahead of its establishment in Ankara on Wednesday. The list included former AKP ministers Sadullah Ergin and Nihat Ergün.

Also, Mustafa Yeneroğlu, a member of parliament who became independent after resigning from the AKP, is among the members.

“Politics for us is freedom for all, especially women, and a good education for our children. It is to provide social justice and build pluralistic democracy, based on the separation of powers and the superiority of law,” he affirmed.

Intellect and cultural diversity in the country enriches the Turkish people, he stressed, highlighting the freedom of religion and that the party will not mix religion with politics.

DEVA is open to dialogue with all opposition parties and the civil community organizations, he continued.

Babacan said that the party leadership has been limited to 10 years at most. The representation inside the party will be 35 percent for women, 20 percent for men with 1 percent for physically challenged people.

Babacan has been in Erdogan’s governments at the time when the Turkish economy grew three folds following the financial crisis in 2001. A great number of Turks pin high hopes on his return to the politics to rescue the country from the deteriorating economic situation.



Netanyahu Appoints Adviser with Trump Ties to Lead Ceasefire Talks 

Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)
Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)
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Netanyahu Appoints Adviser with Trump Ties to Lead Ceasefire Talks 

Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)
Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)

An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.

The official says that Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer will head the Israeli team. Previous talks have been led by the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet security agencies.

Talks have not yet started on the second stage, which is meant to include an end to the war, return of all hostages and Israeli pullout from Gaza.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been officially announced.

The US-born Dermer is widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the US and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House.

Dermer currently serves as Israel’s strategic affairs minister, where he has been a key player in relations with the US and other countries.