MHP leader Bahceli denies claims of dispute with President Erdogan

Delivering remarks to his party congress, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli denied rumors of any disputes with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

“When it comes to the homeland and the flag, the cause and conscience must remind that there will be no separation between our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and myself,” Bahceli stated.

When did rumored dispute begin?

On Oct. 22, Bahceli shocked Turkish politics by calling for the imprisoned founder and leader of the PKK terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan to address the Turkish Parliament and have him publicly request the PKK to lay down arms. 

Since then, rumors have circulated widely across Turkish media and X, formerly Twitter, suggesting a rift between Erdogan and Bahceli on the matter. 

Bahceli: PKK cannot represent Kurds

In his speech on Nov. 19, Bahceli underlined, “We will resolutely continue to say, ‘Everyone is equal in Türkiye’. From here, I call out to my Kurdish brothers and sisters: The PKK cannot represent the Kurds … “

“Those who yesterday were the comrades of the terrorist leader have now become America’s lackeys. We cannot sacrifice the noble sons of the Turkish nation to Biden’s stepchildren. We have no right to do this. Let’s be one, let’s be together, let’s be Türkiye together.”

Regarding sanctions on Israel

Stating that Israel hit Beirut shortly after it proposed a cease-fire to Lebanon, Bahceli commented, “Isn’t it a frightening scandal that the wrongdoers are still not being held accountable? Holding Israel accountable for its genocide crimes is a matter of justice and the honor of democracy. Sanctions should be imposed on Israel and preventive measures should be implemented.”

“Some politicians and so-called expert nests of strangeness, who have accumulated an arsenal of lies and slander in order to distort the truth, have claimed that Türkiye continues to trade with Israel. However, Türkiye has closed the trade page related to Israel to cover all products as of May 2, 2024 … As of May 2, it is clear that there are no customs markings registered for imports and exports to Israel.” 

“An effort to put our country under threat is at best a service to Zionism and hostility to Türkiye. The Republic of Türkiye can never remain silent and a spectator to the serial killers of this era, who write the edict of oppression, speak the language of genocide, and accompany the devil.”