AKP and opposition members' 'IQ' debate leaves its mark on budget negotiations: 'Let's see who scores how much'

Following the interruption of CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın's remarks, his comment, "Damn it! A person should listen a little, should have a little bit of common sense," was met with a response from AKP Group Deputy Chairman Özlem Zengin.

Zengin stated, "If you want, let's have an IQ test for all of us; let's see who scores how much, if you are so curious."

According to the report in Cumhuriyet, AKP Group Deputy Chairman Özlem Zengin, responding to the opposition's criticisms regarding the ministries, said, “Speakers addressing the General Assembly should be addressing the General Assembly, but they are addressing the ministers. On one hand, you say the ministry does not exist, but on the other hand, you direct all your engagement toward the ministers. I think this is a fundamental contradiction. This budget is being discussed in the General Assembly. We must not forget that the primary interlocutor is the General Assembly.”

'COMMISSIONER' DEBATE

Taking the floor after AKP's Zengin, Saadet Party Group Deputy Chairman Bülent Kaya said, “I find the approach of the AKP Group Deputy Chairman, who sees herself as the commissioner of the group deputy chairmen, to be unfair. We know well how to speak. She should decide for herself how she will speak.”

'I AM ASHAMED OF YOU'

Following these remarks, the following debate took place between Zengin and Kaya:

“Zengin: I cannot believe it, if that is what you understand from this. What kind of attitude is this, there is such a thing as shame. Is this what you understand, Mr. Bülent?

Kaya: Our interlocutor here is not the AKP.

Zengin: If you understand this from such a calm speech, then I give up, I give up!

Kaya: Allow me, Madam Chair, I listened to you, you can respond as well.

Zengin: I am ashamed on behalf of your group, I am ashamed of you!

Kaya: If you respond in a moment, there is no need to respond from your seat. There is no need. Do not act as a commissioner, we know how to speak here.”

'BY HIDING THE TRUTH BEHIND THE CARPET...'

As the arguments continued, TBMM Deputy Speaker Karaca said, “Dear deputies, I am not going to learn how to manage the Assembly from you. I will give the floor to your group deputy chairman.”

Taking the floor after Kaya, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Günaydın responded to Zengin's criticisms, saying, “Necdet Ünüvar’s (Ankara University Rector) daughter, Mustafa Destici’s daughter will be taken here without an exam, while hundreds of thousands of our children walk around unemployed. When we voice this, we are supposedly stabbing the Assembly in the back. Do you know what stabbing the Assembly in the back is? The moment they are taken into the Assembly with such privileged treatment, we are stabbing it in the back. We state what is happening; no one can gain respect by hiding the truth behind the carpet.”

'YOU WILL HAVE A HARD TIME SITTING'

Günaydın also responded to the AKP's criticisms regarding the election of Constitutional Court (AYM) members by the Assembly being evaluated as an "appointment." Günaydın said, "The people you elect with the AKP majority are placed before you, and you cast your votes. When we say it didn't happen this way, does that mean it didn't happen? We will also sit in the ruling party benches. The correct way is for the Assembly to elect the AYM member by majority." Zengin interrupted, interjecting, “You will have a hard time sitting.”

After his words were interrupted, Günaydın reacted by saying, "Damn it! A person should listen a little! A person should have a little bit of common sense. Stop making noise, stop making noise and just listen."

Upon this, the following debate took place between the deputies:

AKP Istanbul Deputy Seda Gören Bölük: What a shameful statement. What does making noise mean? Why does another group deputy chairman's speech sound like noise to you, Mr. Gökhan?

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın: I am trying to say this: I am saying that even if the CHP were in power there, instead of appointing everyone with an absolute majority, it should grant the opposition an equal proportional number of members. What are you objecting to? Ignorance is a very bad thing. Therefore, it is unfortunately not possible to expect respect from an environment where such ignorance flows from the pant legs.

‘LET’S HAVE AN IQ TEST FOR ALL OF US’

As the arguments continued, Zengin took the floor and said the following:

“We are the government here. Yes, we are. Even if you don't understand, we are the government. You are talking about irrelevant things on every subject you explain. You are in a contradiction. I invite you to be consistent. Let's not get into this intelligence story either; if you want, let's have an IQ test for all of us... Let's see who scores how much!”