Former President Gül Declares Support for Former Deputy PM Babacan's New Party

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Former President Abdullah Gül has declared support for Ali Babacan, a former deputy prime minister who is poised to form a new party after resigning from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) last year.

"Of course I support [the party]. I am a person who trusts and appreciates Mr. Babacan's character, education, knowledge, and style of politics," he told columnists from daily Karar in an interview.

While the two former senior figures of the AKP have long been rumored to be in cooperation, this was the first time that Gül admitted his support for Babacan.

However, he ruled out joining the party, saying, "I had said I would not be active in politics after I left the presidency. So, I am not in daily politics."

"However, It cannot be expected that I keep my experience for myself when there are bitter problems for the country. It is both my right and my duty to duly contribute to politics and share my views on the basic issues that I see in my country's benefit."

Gül also ruled out rumors that he will be the presidential candidate of Babacan's party.

A founding member of the AKP, Gül served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2003 and 2007 and the president between 2007 and 2014, preceding Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Babacan stated last November that he would found the party by the year-end and that Gül would support them from outside as an "advisor."

CLICK - Ex-Erdoğan Ally Babacan to Found New Party Backing Parliamentary System

Both Babacan and Gül support a parliamentary system, which Turkey left for a presidential system after a controversial referendum in April 2017.

"When I was the president, I said that a parliamentary system was right for Turkey," he noted. "My choice is in favor of a fully democratic parliamentary system."

When asked about criticism against him that he "stayed silent" when the country's democracy was deteriorating, Gül recalled that he had said, "I am proud of the Gezi incidents," referring to the country-wide protests against the government in 2013. (TP/VK)