President Erdogan's former ally Ali Babacan to form rival political party
Turkey's former deputy prime minister said he is to form a new party after months of speculation
Former deputy prime minister Ali Babacan has announced his much-rumoured plans to form a new political party to rival President Recep Tayipp Erdogan's AKP.
Turkey's former deputy prime minister Ali Babacan is to form a new political party to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday.
Mr Babacan is a founding member of Mr Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP), but he resigned from the party in July citing "deep differences". He also served as economy and foreign minister before becoming deputy prime minister between 2009 and 2015.
More:President Erdogan's former ally Ali Babacan to form rival political party - The National