Former Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) İzmir deputy, Ertuğrul Günay, who resigned from the party just after the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25 operations, which were allegedly carried out by members of the Gülen Movement who purportedly infiltrated the police and judiciary with the aim of overthrowing the government in late 2013, is expected to form a new political party as he had recently stated that he will hold his second meeting with 85 individuals in Istanbul on July 23-24 with aims to form a new political model. Sources indicate that the establishment of a new constitution tops the agenda of the meeting to be held in Istanbul, which was first held in Ankara.
Ignoring the recent failures of other Gülen Movement supported politicians in establishing a political party, Günay said: "The country has serious issues in the Constitution and there is work in establishing a new constitution with the guidance of the ruling party [referring to the AK Party], which is wrong." He further claimed that the government's efforts to form a new constitution are not hopeful and that it might cause a further antidemocratic process in the country. In this regard, he indicated that he and his group of friends are brainstorming to come up with ideas. While recalling the failures of İdris Bal, who said Gülenists abandoned him after forming the Democratic Development Party, and İdris Naim Şahin's failure with the Nation and Justice Party (MİLAD) after the alliance of the right-wing Felicity Party (SP) and Grand Union Party (BBP) did not include his party, Günay's comments raised questions of whether he would also establish a new party or not.
Examples of the failures of Turkish deputies forming new parties are numerous. For instance, the political career of Erkan Mumcu, who was a former AK Party deputy and former culture and tourism minister, ended following his resignation from the party and the media no longer mentions him. Another example is former Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Şener, a former AK Party politician, who announced the establishment of a political party in 2009 called the Turkey Party. Şener closed his party shortly after it was founded in 2012 due to its failure to establish political goals. Another example is former Foreign Minister İsmail Cem, who resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) in 2002 ahead of parliamentary elections and formed the New Turkey Party (YTP), but due to election failure it also closed and merged with the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
