Three lawmakers, who had resigned from their parties, joined the ruling AKP on Jan. 7, raising the party’s seat count to 275 and further shifting parliamentary arithmetic.
The three MPs are İrfan Karatutlu, who resigned from the DEVA Party; Hasan Ufuk Çakır, who left the CHP after facing expulsion; and independent Istanbul MP İsa Mesih Şahin, who resigned from the Gelecek Party last summer.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally presented party rosettes to the three deputies at his party’s first parliamentary group meeting of the year.
Çakır is the first CHP lawmaker to join the AKP ranks in this legislative term. In December, he shouted at a committee meeting in Parliament, saying, “Halk TV is speaking against me, calling me a convicted criminal. I am also protesting against the CHP MPs who are not speaking out against this.” He was later referred to the Party Assembly with a request for his expulsion and subsequently resigned. These developments prompted allegations that he had prepared the ground for changing parties.
As he joined the AKP, Çakır saluted Erdoğan — whom he likened to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk — as commander in chief. At the same ceremony, Şahin said he had returned to the fold, while Karatutlu said his mind had always been with the AKP.
With the latest additions, the AKP has gained 14 lawmakers since the start of the current legislative term. The 28th Parliament has seen significant movement, with 37 lawmakers resigning from their parties so far. Most of the resignations were from the İYİ Party, Gelecek and DEVA.
The CHP has also increased its numbers through defections from other opposition parties, lifting its seat total to 138. Nine lawmakers currently sit as independents.
Together, the AKP and its allies — MHP, HÜDA-PAR and DSP — now hold 327 seats. Constitutional amendments or a decision to call early elections require at least 360 votes.
CHP DOWNPLAYS LOSS
CHP Deputy Veli Ağbaba said the public can judge why figures elected from CHP lists, who had harshly criticized the AKP, were now praising it.
Ağbaba said the defections would not harm the CHP: “Let those who took them in think about it. Even AKP members don’t think this is right.”
YENİ YOL KEEPS GOING
The departures have weakened the Yeni Yol group formed by the Saadet, Gelecek and DEVA parties, whose membership has fallen to 20 — just above the threshold required to retain group status. Parliamentary groups are represented on key decision-making bodies and can hold weekly group meetings.
Yeni Yol Party chairs said they were unconcerned. Saadet Party Chair Mahmut Arıkan said, “We will continue to work steadfastly until the 2027–2028 elections.”
If another resignation comes, Arıkan, who did not join the group as a chair, is expected to enter the group.
Gelecek Party Chair Ahmet Davutoğlu said politics can’t be reduced to numbers. “We are continuing on our path,” he added.
DEVA Party Chair Ali Babacan addressed Erdoğan, saying, “What difference does it make if you transfer ten MPs? Don’t you see what state you’ve brought the country to?”
