'Saraçhane' resignation in the Victory Party: Ataturkism comes with action

The decision of the Zafer Party not to attend the rally that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu will hold in Saraçhane today to mark the 100th day of his arrest has caused a crisis within the party. Deputy Chairman responsible for Economy and Development Bartu Soral reacted to the decision and announced that he resigned from his post.

Victory Party leader Ümit Özdağ stated that this decision was taken upon his instructions and that party members would not be extras in a possible provocation.

"ATATURKISM IS REACHED BY ACTION"

Following the decision, Bartu Soral, who resigned from his post, announced his resignation to the public with an open letter. Soral emphasized that the opposition should fight against the current government's practices with a stronger and more founding cadre, and argued that the Victory Party could not meet this need.

In his statement, Soral said, “Ataturkism is revolutionism, the preservation of the unitary structure, nationalism, statism, populism, merit, science, law, struggle. The Republic of Turkey needs Ataturkism like water, like air during this process. Unfortunately, you cannot become an Ataturkist by saying it, you become one by doing it.”

“NO COMMON MIND, LACK OF IDEOLOGICAL CONSISTENCY”

Arguing that there was a lack of ideological depth and common sense in the party, Soral stated that “the party should be strengthened with Atatürkist, knowledgeable and experienced names who have a public response” and that the failure to take a step in this direction led him to resign.

Soral emphasized that Ümit Özdağ's preferences regarding party management were different from his own, and said, "Being in a position where you do not believe that you can solve the country's problems would not be a sincere stance towards the party chairman, the citizens who trust us, or myself. On the contrary, it would be deceiving everyone."

TO THE PUBLIC In a period when our constitutional and legal rights were completely suspended and those who opposed us were treated like blacks, rescuing Mr. Ümit Özdağ from the clutches of lawlessness was the most important and only duty; we all worked together for this.

AKP rule in Turkey in the last 23 years… https://t.co/Rcm6GATjXS

— H. Bartu Soral (@BartuSoral) July 1, 2025

Source: news center