DPS representatives hold meetings with AKP officials in Ankara

Representatives of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), a party associated with Delyan Peevski, held meetings in Ankara with senior officials from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) during the ongoing election campaign. The party delegation, which included three deputy leaders of the movement along with several MPs and municipal mayors, traveled to the Turkish capital to engage with ruling party figures and parliamentary leaders.

Ankara Meetings With AKP and Turkish Parliament Leaders

The DPS delegation met in Ankara with Zafer Sırakaya, the deputy chairman of foreign relations for the AKP, as reported by the party press center. Party representatives had previously met with Sırakaya in March of this year, shortly before the parliamentary elections held on April 19. Later during the visit, the Bulgarian politicians held discussions with Numan Kurtulmuş, the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and Mustafa Yavuz, chairman of the Turkey-Bulgaria Friendship Group in the Turkish parliament.

The talks with Mustafa Yavuz focused on interparliamentary cooperation, economic ties, and attracting investments. Yavuz expressed expectations for heightened contacts between the two parliaments. Meanwhile, the meeting with parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmuş centered on deepening bilateral relations through institutional dialogue. A statement from the DPS press center on the discussions asserted: Special attention was paid to the role of DPS as a consistent factor in building and maintaining sustainable ties between the two countries. Long-standing political and public contacts were indicated as a stable basis for expanding cooperation.

Party leaves electoral stance open for vote

The party’s decision to seek contact with the ruling authorities in Turkey in the middle of an election campaign comes as the movement prepares for upcoming electoral decisions. Although the political force registered to participate in the presidential elections by arguing it has done so consistently since 1991, it ultimately did not nominate a candidate or endorse any of the existing contenders. This stance leaves open the possibility that Peevski’s party could make its choice during a potential second round of the vote.

Delegation meets Turkish officials in Ankara

Who did the DPS delegation meet with in Ankara?

The DPS representatives met with Zafer Sırakaya, deputy chairman of foreign relations for the AKP; Numan Kurtulmuş, speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; and Mustafa Yavuz, chairman of the Turkey-Bulgaria Friendship Group in the Turkish parliament.

Who led the DPS delegation to Turkey?

The multi-member delegation was led by three deputy leaders of the movement: MP Halil Letifov, Kardzhali Mayor Erol Mümin, and Kaolinovo Mayor Nida Ahmedov, alongside parliamentary deputy speaker Ayten Sabri and other municipal mayors and lawmakers.

What has the party decided regarding the presidential elections?

The movement registered to participate in the presidential elections following its historical practice since 1991, but it did not nominate a candidate or endorse any contender, leaving open the expectation that it may make a choice on a potential second round.