Berhan Şimşek's swift response to Fatih Altaylı: 'You were a government sycophant for years'
Journalist Fatih Altaylı used harsh language regarding former MP Berhan Şimşek, whose candidacy for the CHP's 21st Extraordinary Congress was rejected after he submitted his signatures 5 minutes late. Responding to Altaylı, Şimşek revealed a conversation that took place between them years ago.
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The Republican People's Party (CHP) 21st Extraordinary Congress is behind us, but the debates continue.
Former MP Berhan Şimşek, who announced his candidacy before the congress but was unable to run because he submitted his signatures 5 minutes late, used harsh language regarding CHP leader Özgür Özel in a press statement.
Fatih Altaylı, who wrote that Şimşek had become "a hero of the pro-government media," had said, "I congratulate him. He will get the lead role in the first TRT series to be filmed from now on. After all, he fits the criteria. He neither went to Saraçhane nor called for a boycott."
In a post on his social media account, Berhan Şimşek alleged that during his time as a CHP provincial chairman, Altaylı "called him and threatened him indirectly by saying that if he did not place the rally advertisement in the newspaper he worked for, he would not report on the CHP."
Şimşek stated, "Throughout your life, you have never let anyone take the lead role and heroism in acting as a spokesperson for governments. I worked in cinema for 30 years. I did not perform belly dancing in front of the camera in television studios. You like that. Let this be a slap in the face for you."
Mr. @fatihaltayli you were a government sycophant for years. During the time I was CHP provincial chairman, you called me and threatened me indirectly by saying that if I did not place the rally advertisement in the newspaper you worked for, you would not report on the CHP.
— Berhan Simsek (@Berhansimsek) April 7, 2025
Mr. @fatihaltayli I don't know you very well, very well...