Former Justice Minister Ergin Resigns from AKP, Reportedly to Join Babacan in New Party

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Former Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin resigned from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) where he was a three-term lawmaker.

He is expected to join Ali Babacan, a former deputy premier who resigned from the party last month and announced that he "started working" to form a new movement. Babacan is also believed to ve supported by former President Abdullah Gül.

CLICK - Babacan: We Started Working

Ergin confirmed his resignation to the Independent Turkish. When asked about when did he resign, he replied, "Let's pass on this question."

However, the Habertürk reported that Ergin said he resigned a few days after Ali Babacan, about two months ago.

Ergin was an MP from the AKP in the 22nd, 23rd and 24th terms. He served as the Minister of Justice from 2011 to 2013.

Ergin was the AKP's candidate for the mayor of Hatay Metropolitan Municipality in the local elections held in 2014. He lost the election by falling behind his Republican People's Party (CHP) rival Lütfü Savaş by five thousand votes.

Former PM Ahmet Davutoğlu is also preparing to form a new party separately from Babacan. (EKN/VK)