Erdogan’s government a “national security risk” for Turkey, opposition leader says

Ali Babacan, the leader of Turkey’s Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government is a “national security risk” for the country.

Vowing to end AKP’s “belligerent, introverted adventures that teared Turkey apart from the world,” former minister Babacan said his party will protect the interests of the nation with international law and reason, Diken news website reported on Monday.

“We cannot tolerate stupidity in our foreign policy,” Babacan said.

As a founding member of the AKP, Babacan took charge of high-profile roles in previous Erdogan governments, including foreign minister, treasury minister and deputy prime minister in charge of the economy.

Babacan who also served as Turkey’s chief negotiator for EU accession, is commonly lauded for a successful command of the country’s economy during the first decade of the AKP governance. 

In 2019, Babacan resigned from the AKP, citing differences over significant policies and formed DEVA.

On Monday, Babacan announced his party’s “Foreign Policy and Security Action Plan” in capital Ankara.

Babacan said Turkey has no foreign policy. 

Instead, “There is a set of personalized external relations that depend on one person's impulses,” Babacan said, referring to president Erdogan.

“Now there is only gun power is left in Turkey's repertoire of relations,” DEVA chairman argued, claiming that no other country is listening what Turkey says anymore.

“Our direction is European Union standards. Even if we become a EU member or not, our goal is to provide our citizens with a standard of law, freedom and democracy at the European Union level,” Babacan said.

“Our children will grow up in a Turkey with strong democracy, strong economy and strong justice. Our children will grow up in Europe's high-headed Turkey,” he said.

Babacan said DEVA will not only use security instruments in the fight against terrorism, but will activate diplomacy, international relations and socio-economic tools.

“Social dynamics will be taken into account in our struggle against terrorism. We will deal with root causes,” he said.

Babacan also said that their aim is to make the Aegean, a sea of peace.