AKP responds to CHP's corruption allegations with 'Kılıçdaroğlu' retort: 'Clean up your own party first'
Tensions flared between AKP and CHP lawmakers over "corruption" accusations during the ongoing budget marathon in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Responding to the allegations brought to the agenda by the CHP Group, Akbaşoğlu retorted, "First, clean the CHP of all kinds of theft and corruption, as Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu said, then come and say that."
12punto
Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Tekin Bingöl presided over the General Assembly session, where deliberations regarding the 2026 budgets for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Trade were concluded.
Following responses from Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat to questions from lawmakers, verbal sparring broke out between the AKP and CHP.
CORRUPTION TENSION
AKP Group Deputy Chairman Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu, addressing criticisms from the opposition, stated, "Look, our nation knows very well who is right and who is creating perceptions." Rejecting the CHP's corruption allegations, Akbaşoğlu replied, "We have pursued and continue to pursue all kinds of corruption and theft in this regard, but you cannot attribute your own labels to our group or our ministers."
CHP Malatya MP Veli Ağbaba, pointing to Minister Bolat's statements, reacted to Akbaşoğlu by saying, "Are you a partner, are you a smuggler, what are you? Have some shame." Ağbaba further fueled the debate in the hall by stating, "AK Party members, there is corruption here, corruption. There is smuggling here."
KILIÇDAROĞLU RETORT
Continuing his criticism of the CHP, Akbaşoğlu said, "First, clean the CHP of all kinds of theft and corruption, as Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu said, then come and say that."
CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır responded to Akbaşoğlu's words by saying, "What did our former Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu say? He said, 'The party that committed the theft of the century is the AK Party.' Did you take an example from that? You did not. Is this what you are saying now? If you are looking for corruption, theft, and shamelessness, look in the mirror." CHP Antalya MP Cavit Arı also reacted to Akbaşoğlu during the session, saying, "Look at yourselves, look at yourselves."