DPI Online Roundtable ‘Opposition’s Perspective on the political, social and economic effects of COVID-19 in Turkey’ with Ali Babacan, President of Democratic and Progress Party (DEVA)

On 13 October 2020, DPI hosted the sixth in its series of roundtable meetings engaging political parties from Turkey. Entitled ‘Opposition’s Perspective on the political, social and economic effects of COVID-19 in Turkey’, we were delighted to welcome Ali Babacan, Leader of the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party, who shared his newly formed party’s perspective on the current situation in Turkey. Mr Babacan also discussed his party’s vision and strategy in terms of the challenges and opportunities facing democratisation and normalisation in Turkey at this difficult time. Previous meetings hosted representatives of AK Party, HDP, Future Party, Saadet (Felicity Party) and CHP. This meeting brought together a diversified virtual room of participants from Turkey, including academics, journalists, lawyers, politicians, representatives from civil society, and members of Wise Persons Committee (WPC), as well as representatives of the European Union, Embassies of Ireland, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and USA in Ankara. The RT forms part of a larger series of activities planned in the context of the project: “Supporting inclusive dialogue at a challenging time in Turkey”, supported by the EU, the Norwegian and Irish government.