Turkey’s Erdogan Concerned with Babacan’s Rise

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C), flanked by Ali Babacan (L) and Ahmet Davutoglu (R), in Ankara in 2014. (Reuters)
Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C), flanked by Ali Babacan (L) and Ahmet Davutoglu (R), in Ankara in 2014. (Reuters)
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Turkey’s Erdogan Concerned with Babacan’s Rise

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C), flanked by Ali Babacan (L) and Ahmet Davutoglu (R), in Ankara in 2014. (Reuters)
Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C), flanked by Ali Babacan (L) and Ahmet Davutoglu (R), in Ankara in 2014. (Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is concerned with the growing popularity of former deputy prime minister Ali Babacan and his Democracy and Progress Party ahead of the 2023 parliamentary elections, revealed sources from the ruling Justice and Development party.

As a result, the president has sought to introduce change in the AK Party structure and policies in an attempt to avoid a setback in the polls, they added.

The pressure is on given the growing number of resignations from the party and the challenge mounted by opponents, including Babacan and former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Davutoglu was once a close ally to Erdogan, but broke away from the AK Party in 2019.

The sources said that Erdogan views Babacan as his greatest challenge and has introduced a process to “renew” the ruling party.

Among his first moves was his sudden abandonment of his son-in-law and Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak, who abruptly resigned in November soon after the president sacked the central bank governor.

The governor was replaced by Naci Agbal, in a move that angered Albayrak, who was being groomed to succeed Erdogan as head of the AK Party.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Albayrak’s departure from the picture marks the beginning of Erdogan’s effort to restore the power of his party.

The president then introduced change to his economic policies, paving the way for a softer foreign policy and calm approach to the European Union and United States, despite the sanctions the former has imposed on Ankara over its destabilizing activities in the eastern Mediterranean and the latter’s sanctions over its purchase of the Russian S-400 defense system.

Babacan has meanwhile been active in growing his party’s popular base by carrying out tours to various Turkish cities and provinces where he was warmly welcomed by the people.

Many still recall his major economic successes when he served as minister of state in charge of economic affairs in previous Erdogan governments.

Babacan also tweeted new year greetings in Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, English and French. The move stirred debate in Turkey because it was the first time that a head of a Turkish party expresses greetings in Kurdish and other foreign languages.

Erdogan is set to resume holding conferences for the AK Party after they came to a halt with the novel coronavirus outbreak. They will be held between January 8 and until the end of February. The party will hold its general congress in May.

Despite the setbacks, polls reveal that Erdogan’s party can still retain power and has the ability to resolve the country’s problems, on condition that it introduce new blood to its ranks and embark on reform before the 2023 elections.



Six Newborns Die from Severe Cold in Gaza, Medic Says

Yahya Al-Batran, the father of Palestinian infant Jumaa Al-Batran, who died of hypothermia after living in a tent with his displaced family, reacts as he embraces his body at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, December 29, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
Yahya Al-Batran, the father of Palestinian infant Jumaa Al-Batran, who died of hypothermia after living in a tent with his displaced family, reacts as he embraces his body at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, December 29, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
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Six Newborns Die from Severe Cold in Gaza, Medic Says

Yahya Al-Batran, the father of Palestinian infant Jumaa Al-Batran, who died of hypothermia after living in a tent with his displaced family, reacts as he embraces his body at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, December 29, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
Yahya Al-Batran, the father of Palestinian infant Jumaa Al-Batran, who died of hypothermia after living in a tent with his displaced family, reacts as he embraces his body at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, December 29, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

At least six newborn babies have died in Gaza due to severe cold, according to Dr. Saeed Saleh, a health official at the Patient's Friends Benevolent Society Hospital (PFBS) in the enclave, in a recorded video on Tuesday.

Saleh said that in the past two weeks, eight newborns were admitted with severe cold-related injuries, six of whom later died, Reuters reported.

The hospital highlighted the dire living conditions facing Palestinians, who are currently residing in tents and bombed-out homes, with no protection from the freezing temperatures currently sweeping across the Middle East.

Health officials at the hospital called on mediators in the conflict between Israel and Hamas to urgently provide mobile homes as temporary shelters for more than 280,000 families who are homeless after Israeli airstrikes.

They also called for fuel deliveries to ensure warmth and safeguard young children from the harsh weather conditions.

Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire in Gaza on January 19 to end nearly 16 months of conflict and allow the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

However, the truce is fragile with both sides accusing the other of violations. Last week, Hamas threatened to postpone the scheduled release of hostages after it said Israel had delayed the promised entry of mobile homes into the devastated strip.

Hamas blamed the deaths of the newborns on Israel’s "criminal policies," accusing Israel of obstructing humanitarian aid.

Israel did not immediately comment on the reports of the newborn deaths. It has consistently denied restricting aid.

International aid officials have confirmed that aid is getting into Gaza despite logistical problems, but they warn more was needed.