(Bloomberg) -- Ali Babacan, who presided over Turkey's economy from 2009 to 2015, said he will announce his political party's program on Wednesday in a move to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule.
The party said it registered with the Interior Ministry on Monday morning. It will be named the “Democracy and Advance Party,” or DEVA -- which translates as “cure,” according to the Duvar news website.
The party will prioritize media rights and freedom of speech, Babacan said in an interview with local Fox TV. Good governance is needed to unlock the economy's potential, he said. Babacan, 53, resigned from Erdogan's ruling AK Party in July 2019.
Read more: Former Turkish Economy Chief Wants to Undo Erdogan's Power Grab
“There is nothing independent” in the country, “not even the judiciary,” Babacan said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Firat Kozok in Ankara at fkozok@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Onur Ant at oant@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel, Paul Abelsky
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