Erdoğan: 'Our fists are not clenched, but there will be no alliance with the opposition'

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements at his party's weekly group meeting.

Erdoğan gave messages regarding the normalization agenda in politics and continued his criticisms of the CHP.

Highlights from Erdoğan's statements:

• Our effort for softening and normalization in politics is actually an effort to normalize the opposition. It is the opposition that will unclench its fists, it is the opposition that will put its daggers back in their sheaths, and it is the opposition that will correct its language. It is the opposition that needs to soften and normalize.
• There can be no political alliance between the ruling party and the main opposition party. There can be reconciliation and softening, but there cannot be an alliance. We are not in such an effort anyway.
• Everyone is following the crudeness displayed not even 2 days after our return visit. It is understood that those opposite us are experiencing a serious digestion problem. We have not seen tolerance or courtesy from the CHP for 22 years, and we have lost nothing because of that. We are not seeking any political gain today either.

'WE ARE NOT MEEK SHEEP TO BE LED TO SLAUGHTER'

• Our desire to give a chance to dialogue does not mean that we will accept insolence towards the People's Alliance. Being polite does not mean we will turn a blind eye to impoliteness. We are soft-headed, but we are not meek sheep to be led to slaughter.
• Those looking for an accomplice should not tire themselves out; they should look at the towers of money whose origin and destination they cannot explain. They should question who they are walking with in the so-called city consensus. We expect the opposition to act constructively. The dialogue process should not be sacrificed to intra-party power struggles.
• We will not swallow inappropriate expressions that exceed the limits of criticism. If someone's search for a partnership is to get a share of the AK Party's 22-year service legacy, we will not make anyone a partner in our success story.

'WE KNOW WHERE THEY WANT TO REACH'

• We are walking shoulder to shoulder with the MHP. Even though the People's Alliance is composed of different political parties coming together, it is one, a single heart, a single soul, and a single body on behalf of Turkey. An attack on any member of the People's Alliance is an attack on the unity of the alliance.
• We will not say 'okay' to these attacks. We are aware of the game being played. We know very well where they want to reach with the hitman pens of FETÖ, whose lice have been bloodied by character assassinations.
• We clearly see the attacks and dark rooms directed at both Mr. Bahçeli and myself. Their issue is not so much with the MHP as it is with the People's Alliance, which is the guarantee of Turkey. We will not fall into this trap. The People's Alliance stands firm; it is one and whole.

'I HAVE SAID WHAT I HAD TO SAY'

Erdoğan answered journalists' questions about the agenda after his party's group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

When asked about CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's statement, "Our fists will not be clenched; we will continue to shake hands, greet, and negotiate," in response to his own expression used at the group meeting, "It is the opposition that will unclench its fists," Erdoğan said, "I have already said what I had to say. There is no need to say anything else beyond that."

CONGRATULATED RUTTE

When reminded of Mark Rutte's election as NATO Secretary General and asked, "Do you have any expectations from the new NATO Secretary General?" Erdoğan said the following:

"I congratulated Rutte half an hour ago. I said, 'May it be auspicious.' We will meet in Washington; we will come together. He also said, 'I will come to visit Turkey without waiting for Washington'."

News Source: 12punto