Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu refuted rumors that a rift had formed between himself and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and said, "Differences in style do not mean that we confront one another." While budget talks are ongoing, Davutoğlu has in recent days held several close circle meetings with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies in Parliament. Answering questions from AK Party deputies as to whether there are personal problems with President Erdoğan, Davutoğlu said that there are no personal conflicts and added these claims do not reflect the truth.
Davutoğlu reportedly told AK Party deputies: "These allegations are not right. President Erdoğan is the charismatic leader of our political movement and has significant political experience. He has remarkably contributed to the transformation of Turkey. There might be different personalities and expressions, but differences in style do not mean that we confront one another. He is the leader of this movement." He stressed that "there are no problems" between him and the president.
Reminding AK Party deputies that he had been a member of this political movement since it was found, Davutoğlu said that Turkey had seen traumatic periods in the past, but they don't want to see these traumas any more. "The fate of the AK Party and the fate of Turkey is the same. We will not allow internal conflicts that will affect the fate of the country."
