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Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced that he and his party had decided to withdraw from party politics and end the political activities of the Future Party.
In a written statement on social media, he argued that Türkiye's political system in general, and party politics in particular, had entered a major deadlock.
Davutoglu said the three main currents that have shaped Türkiye's history of political thought and democracy were facing what he described as a serious existential test.
He said conservatives should aim for moral essence, nationalists for equal citizenship, and advocates of modernization for bringing universal values together with national values.
"In light of these assessments, as a result of consultations we held with the authorized bodies of our party and our companions in the cause who have carried the Future Party to this day, we have decided to withdraw from party politics and end the political activities of the Future Party in order not to be part of the polluted political climate," Davutoglu said.
The decision comes amid a broader realignment in Türkiye's opposition and just five days after Ozgur Ozel, the ousted leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), left the century-old party and founded the New Party with 90 other lawmakers.
The formation of the New Party dramatically reshaped the balance in Parliament, giving Ozel's party 91 seats and reducing the CHP to 44 lawmakers.
Davutoglu underlined that the decision was "not a decision of surrender."
"This is a decision to maintain a moral distance," he said.
"This is not giving up on politics, but a call for everyone to rethink politics. This is not withdrawing from the struggle for Türkiye, but raising our responsibility toward Türkiye above daily political calculations," he added.
Davutoglu said the Türkiye of tomorrow must be built on freedom of thought, merit, law, production, social justice, equal citizenship, institutional effectiveness, social peace, original thought and strategic reason.
"Our struggle did not begin with any position, nor will it end with the legal personality of any party," he said.
"From now on, we will continue to work for our country in every field, especially thought, morality, education, science, culture, international diplomacy, economy and social solidarity," he added.
Davutoglu said they would "encourage what is right" and continue their responsibility to warn against what is wrong.
"Until the Türkiye of tomorrow is built, we will continue to think, speak, warn and work for our nation," he said.
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Davutoglu, who served as foreign minister from 2009 to 2014 before becoming prime minister, was a central figure in shaping Türkiye's foreign policy during much of the early Justice and Development Party (AK Party) era and was once among Erdogan's closest political allies.
He resigned as premier in May 2016 after falling out with Erdogan.
Davutoglu launched the Future Party in December 2019.
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