Ali Babacan

The leaders of six opposition parties will hold their first meeting to discuss the results of ongoing joint work for the return to the parliamentary system if they come to power in the next elections.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said he would pay a visit to the southern province of Diyarbakır on Jan. 27.

"I send greetings to the people of Diyarbakir from here," he told reporters after a meeting with Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) leader Ali Babacan.

The leaders of three opposition parties have held an announced meeting to discuss the future composition of the Nation Alliance, as well as ongoing preparations over the main pillars of the road map for the return of the parliamentary system once they come to power in the next elections.

Metin Gürcan, a founding member of the opposition Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), has been arrested and sent to prison over political and military espionage pending trial.

Gürcan, a former soldier, was detained on Nov. 26 in Istanbul as part of an investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office.

Turkey needs a more comprehensive change, including a new mindset to tackle the problems of the country, along with a new administrative system, the chair of the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) has said, as it celebrates its first anniversary.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the opposition Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) have agreed to launch consultations to harmonize their ideas about a strengthened parliamentary system.

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and DEVA leader Ali Babacan held a meeting on Jan. 28 to discuss the strengthened parliamentary system and on which pillars it should be built.

The Nation Alliance, made up of opposition parties, should soon start working on the details of the improved parliamentary system in a bid to abandon the executive presidential system, the head of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has said, claiming the next elections will constitute an historic milestone for Turkish democracy.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has reiterated his calls to lower the 10 percent election threshold for a more representative parliament and criticized the government's attempts to make it harder for new political parties to have a chance in winning seats.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader has expressed his belief that Turkey will overcome the ongoing coronavirus threat under the guidance of science and wisdom and by showing strong social solidarity, in a letter conveyed to the leaders of all political party leaders. 

Turkey's former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan announced on March 11 the launch of his new political party, the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA).