Turkish society is notorious for generating and believing in conspiracy theories — a common pattern in societies riddled with nontransparent governance. Naturally, this tendency nourished itself under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Therefore, many Turks believe that the Turkish government deliberately confirmed the country's first coronavirus case March 11 to upstage Ali Babacan, who launched his political party the same day.

Babacan, formerly a close associate of Erdogan, launched his Democracy and Progress Party, or Deva — an acronym that means “remedy” in Turkish — which could be a real challenge to Erdogan, as it might be a remedy for many Turkish problems.

Babacan, Turkey’s former deputy premier, introduced the founders and the program of his long-awaited party at a press conference in Ankara March 12. The press conference was held at the same hotel where Erdogan launched the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001. 

Babacan’s party is widely considered to be a real potential challenge to Erdogan's AKP. Yet the Turkish public’s attention turned to the coronavirus the day of the announcement, with thousands of people flooding supermarkets and pharmacies to stock up on emergency supplies. The day was therefore an inconvenient one to launch an ambitious political project.