A hot-button claim from Fatih Erbakan… ‘Erdogan is personally carrying out the operations’

Erbakan spoke as follows in response to a question regarding the resignation of some mayors from the Re-Welfare Party:

"The issue of resignation of mayors is not only an issue for the Re-Welfare Party. Mayors from the Re-Welfare Party are closer to the AK Party in terms of worldview and life. But we are living in a period where CHP mayors, who are much further away from the AK Party in terms of worldview, life and political line, have also switched to the AK Party.

An important reason for this here, unfortunately, is the operation to transfer mayors from one party to another – especially to the ruling party – through self-interest or pressure, threats, political blackmail. We have mayors who the President himself follows, wears a badge on, and calls and invites over the phone. They attach so much importance to this issue. Because they see that the government is in the process of melting down and they are doing this work to prevent this melting down.

There is political blackmail and pressure going on here. These people cannot stand this either. This is also the case for CHP. There are examples in Beykoz, Aydın and other places. Unfortunately, these mayors face serious political blackmail. A similar situation is being applied to MPs in terms of constitutional amendments."