MHP leader Bahçeli accuses İstanbul Mayor of ‘speaking ill of Turkey’ in Munich

* Photo and news: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli spoke at the weekly group meeting of his party today (February 22).

The MHP leader addressed a series of current issues on the agenda including the escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

Yesterday, President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. Accordingly, the country has officially recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

Speaking amid these developments, Bahçeli stressed that "the political and territorial integrity of Ukraine must definitely be respected," noting that "Russia's responsibility is weighty in that regard."

Emphasizing that the MHP "definitely disapproves of a possible war between Russia and Ukraine", Bahçeli said:

We believe that diplomacy and dialogue is the only way out so that peace and stability take root. War is wrong. It means the defeat of humanity. Moreover, we are of the opinion that warmongering countries are never good-intentioned. Temperate, cautious, commonsensical and calm policies are for the benefit of every country.

İmamoğlu's attendance to Munich Conference

Further in his speech, Devlet Bahçeli also talked about the attendance of İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to the Munich Security Conference, which was held in Germany on February 18-20, 2022.

Devlet Bahçeli said, "Was everything at the municipality all taken care of that it was now the turn of [attending] the Munich Security Conference? In what capacity, with what duty and responsibility was the İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor in Munich? What is this person doing in Munich? What is he looking for at Conference corridors? For what is he lobbying?"

Referring to İmamoğlu's remarks at the conference, Bahçeli added:

"He said that İstanbul is craving for democracy, Turkey's democracy has been disabled, but has not died, institutions have been worn out and there has been an increased longing for European values and norms. Without feeling any shame or embarrassment or blushing in any way at all, the İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor spoke ill of Turkey and made it look bad."

Accusing İmamoğlu of "denouncement, rootlessness and lack of identity", Bahçeli defined his remarks as "a scandal". He also criticized him for having pictures taken with Cem Özdemir, the former Co-Chair of Germany's Greens and current Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture.

Tarkan's 'This shall pass' song

MHP Chair Bahçeli also talked about Tarkan's song "Geççek" (This shall pass), which has especially been embraced and supported by the opposition due to its lyrics while it is criticized and faced with accusations by some pro-government media outlets and ruling party politicians.

Noting that the refrain of the song (Geççek) is sung in a commonly used Anatolian dialect, Bahçeli said, "This shall of course pass. The contempt shall pass, the outbreak shall pass, terror shall pass, the problems shall pass and it shall be seen that this will happen soon."

Saying that "there is no use in provoking suspicions", Bahçeli refuted the ones "expecting him to attribute the song to the issue of national survival". He recommended that "those who seek to make an opposition figure out of Tarkan should first listen to his songs 'I get annoyed, man' (Kıl oldum abi) and 'Don't be anything other, be yourself' (Başkası olma kendin ol)." (AÖ/SD)