Breaking News: Bahçeli tears up at the podium: He read out the names of the children who died in the fire tragedy

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli made statements regarding the agenda at his party's group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

Genel Başkanımız Sayın Devlet BAHÇELİ Grup Toplantısında Konuşuyor https://t.co/FgedTkQv1H

— MHP (@MHP_Bilgi) January 28, 2025

Bahçeli began his remarks with the fire tragedy in Bolu, where 78 citizens lost their lives:

"Sometimes we are left helpless under waves of rising sorrow. Sometimes we are caught in chains of negligence and suffocated by black smoke. On January 21, 2025, at an hour connecting night to morning, exactly one week ago, Turkey was shaken by a terrible disaster. The fire that broke out in the wooden hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya took 78 of our brothers and sisters, 78 innocent people, 78 of our guiltless citizens from life, both by burning them and suffocating them with toxic smoke. I pray for God's mercy upon our deceased citizens who went on vacation only to return home in rows of coffins, and upon our children whose report cards were left orphaned. Once again, our condolences. I wish healing to those who survived this tragedy with injuries and those who are under treatment."

TEARS UP AT THE PODIUM

Bahçeli teared up as he read the names of the children who lost their lives.

Devlet Bahçeli, Grand Kartal Otel yangınında yaşamını yitiren çocukların isimlerini sayarken gözleri doldu pic.twitter.com/bwsWWeEumZ

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) January 28, 2025

RESPONSE TO EARLY ELECTION

Responding to calls for an early election, Bahçeli stated, "An expectation of an election is an imaginary expectation and is rowing against the tide. The attempt by the CHP and its subordinates, whose path does not intersect with any rule or principle of contemporary democracy, to disrupt Turkey's political stability is destined to backfire."

Touching upon the meeting between the DEM Party delegation and the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Öcalan, Bahçeli said, "It is my sincere wish that the expected call be announced as soon as possible."

Here are the highlights from Bahçeli's statements:

"For the sake of God, can someone tell me if anyone has understood anything from the bottomless debates that have been going on since last week?

When did we become so alienated from human values?

Whoever holds responsibility, it is an inevitable requirement of justice that they be held accountable.

Setting the stage for polarization is cowardice. While the innocent have not even been removed from the burnt hotel, being in a rush to blame this person or that to escape the situation is narcissism. The first condition of being moral is, in essence, being responsible. Suppressing or undermining the facts is not a matter of morality, but of justice.

While those above ground are stomping around, what will they say to those below ground on the Day of Judgment? Will they say, 'What could we do, did we have to smear everyone we came across to shift the responsibility from ourselves?' Who will account for the 78 children of the homeland? These words belong to our President; we do not find it right for such a tragedy to turn into a blind fight between politicians. While the smoke of the tragedy is still rising, trying to blame this person or that to escape the situation is narcissism.

Those who are eager to wield a pen and engage in a duel of words are rotten individuals who have no value other than being the megaphone of their own neighborhoods, and who are morally non-existent. The first condition of being moral is to be responsible.

REACTION TO BOLU MUNICIPALITY AND MINISTRY OF TOURISM

Let us leave the judiciary to do its job regarding the fire. Let it complete a multi-faceted investigation with the State Supervisory Council upon the instruction of our President. From the hotel owner to the provincial special administration, from the municipality to the relevant ministry, those who bear the burden of responsibility, whether institutionally or personally, must account for it one by one before the nation, the law, and history. Saying 'it is not in my jurisdiction' is, first and foremost, usurping and trampling upon our country's democratic legal image. Are we going to pin the bill for the fire on the wild animals in the Köroğlu Mountains? Are we not going to pursue the identified deficiencies in the application made to the Bolu Municipality Fire Department and the subsequent withdrawal of that same application?

Regarding the debates over who should have inspected the fire escapes, the non-functioning announcement and warning systems, the evacuation exits, the deficiencies, and the lightning rod system whose inadequacy is obvious, it is necessary to see, evaluate, and definitely conclude the other shortcomings of the hotel rather than just the hotel itself. The guilt of the brazen hotel owner is fixed. I am obliged to declare that we do not find it right for the Bolu Municipality to seek to turn the fire into a political mess, for the relevant ministry to act as if nothing happened and refrain from self-criticism, and for the governorship and the provincial special administration to take a stance that they are outside the area of responsibility. Our human lives should not be cheap.

CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

Our wish is a permanent peace with two states. The project of exiling the oppressed people of Gaza is problematic. Political shadow games and global autocratic ambitions cannot benefit anyone. What falls to the US administration is to separate itself from terrorist organizations with clear lines and to sever its ties.

"IT IS A SHAME TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN SYRIA"

It is a shame to establish contact with organizations in Syria. What falls to the US is to sever its connection with terrorism. If the terrorist organization does not lay down its arms, it is our right to punish it.

If terrorists do not lay down their arms, taking those weapons and breaking them over the heads of the terrorists is Turkey's right to survival and security. The era is the Turkish era. The backbone of terrorism will be broken. The expectation of an election is an imaginary expectation. It is rowing against the tide.

I am addressing those who did not learn a lesson from July 15; if you have the heart, go out to the street. If your curiosity for playing with fire has recurred, try it and let us see what you are made of.

ADDRESSED THE DEM PARTY IMRALI DELEGATION AND ÖCALAN

The Republic of Turkey has continued its struggle against terrorist organizations to protect its national borders and has reached this day. Today, the ASALA terrorist organization does not exist. PKK terrorism has decreased to the point of being non-existent. We are in a period where the separatist terrorist organization is fading away.

Declare that you regret it, that this struggle will never yield results. It is my sincere wish that the expected call be announced as soon as possible. How happy is the birth of a terror-free Turkey.

News Source: 12punto