Bülent Arınç’s remarks on 'Erdoğan', 'early elections', and 'candidacy': Let them lose sleep

Stating that Erdoğan cannot be a candidate in an election held on the normal calendar due to constitutional requirements, Arınç said, "Can our President not say, 'My brother is so-and-so'? There are many names from within and outside the party. If there are those who say he cannot, they will see. Let them lose sleep," he said.

Responding to questions from Hasan Basri Akdemir on HBA Medya, former Parliament Speaker Bülent Arınç said that he met with President Erdoğan for about an hour following the AKP's Sapanca camp.

Touching upon the discussions regarding Erdoğan's re-candidacy, Arınç pointed to the constitutional regulation and stated that if the elections are held on their normal date, Erdoğan cannot be a candidate again.

"If it is held at the normal time, our President cannot be a candidate. There is only one condition for this," said Arınç, stating that this condition is for the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) to decide to renew the elections.

Arınç said that Erdoğan could be decisive not only regarding his own candidacy but also when a name other than himself needs to be considered.

“IF THE ELECTION IS HELD AT THE NORMAL TIME, ERDOĞAN CANNOT BE A CANDIDATE”

Upon being reminded of the statements by Devlet Bahçeli and AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik that “Our candidate is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” Arınç said he found these statements politically normal.

However, drawing attention to the constitutional framework, Arınç stated that if the elections are held on their normal date, Erdoğan cannot be a candidate again.

Arınç said, “But now everyone knows that if an election is held at the normal time, on its day, our President cannot be a candidate. There is only one condition for this.”

“IF PARLIAMENT MOVES THE ELECTIONS FORWARD, HE CAN BE A CANDIDATE”

Arınç said that Erdoğan's re-candidacy would only be possible if Parliament moves the elections forward.

The former Parliament Speaker stated, “If the Turkish Grand National Assembly moves the election a bit earlier than that full date, then there is a possibility to be a candidate again.”

Reminding that a majority of 360 is needed in Parliament for this, Arınç stated that he does not find it correct to finalize the election date from today.

Arınç said, “God willing, if everything goes well, goes normally, and our President wishes to be a candidate again, then an effort must be made by a majority in Parliament to move the elections forward.”

“IT IS TO END THE DISCUSSIONS”

Arınç also evaluated the statements of Bahçeli and Ömer Çelik regarding Erdoğan's candidacy as a move to “end the discussions.”

Saying, “Announcing this from today is perhaps to end some discussions,” Arınç said he agreed with AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik on this issue.

“IS TAYYİP BEY BÜLENT ARINÇ’S CANDIDATE?”

In the interview, the direct question “Is Tayyip Bey Bülent Arınç’s candidate?” was also directed at Arınç.

Arınç did not answer this question by giving a name directly. Saying, “I will not get into that subject,” Arınç then emphasized the founding process of the AKP and the party's culture of renunciation.

Arınç said, “Our AK Party was founded on renunciation, it was founded on sacrifice.”

GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF ABDULLAH GÜL

While describing the political solidarity during the founding period of the AKP, Arınç gave the example of Abdullah Gül handing over the prime ministry to Erdoğan.

Reminding that Abdullah Gül formed the government after the 2002 elections due to Erdoğan's political ban, Arınç said that Gül handed over the prime ministry to Erdoğan after the Siirt elections.

Arınç stated, “Abdullah Bey, I am a witness, said, ‘No, the prime ministry is Tayyip Bey’s right. We had talked like this. He has arrived, I will hand it over to him immediately.’ Who does this?”

“LET ME WHISPER A WARNING IN THEIR EARS”

The most striking part of the interview was Arınç’s words regarding the “post-Erdoğan” discussions.

Sending a message to those who are already calculating names for the post-President Erdoğan era, Arınç said, “But let me whisper a warning in their ears, if you allow me.”

Arınç said that Erdoğan could be decisive not only regarding his own candidacy but also when a name other than himself needs to be considered.

“LET’S END THIS BUSINESS WITH THIS. LET THEM LOSE SLEEP”

Arınç stated that Erdoğan could point to a name from within or outside the party and used the following expressions:

“I mean, why do these ignorant people keep such a thing out of their minds? For example, can our President not say, ‘My brother is so-and-so’? There are many names from within and outside the party, my brother. Can he say it, or can he not? If there are those who say he cannot, they will see.”

Following these words, Arınç said, “Let’s end this business with this. Let them lose sleep.”

“IF HE CONTINUES HIMSELF, WE WILL RESPECT IT”

Arınç also said that if Erdoğan wants to be a candidate again and continue, he would respect that.

“He will continue himself. We respect him. Our loyalty continues,” said Arınç, reiterating his emphasis on comradeship towards Erdoğan.

“IF HE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE, HE IS THE BEST PERSON TO DO THIS”

Arınç argued that even if Erdoğan does not become a candidate or if a decision is made on another name, the person who would manage this process best is Erdoğan.

Arınç said, “But if he is not going to be the one and someone else is being considered, rest assured he is the best person to do this.”

These words added a new headline to the discussions continuing in AKP and People's Alliance circles: “Will Erdoğan be a candidate again, and if not, who will be nominated in his place?”

MET WITH ERDOĞAN FOR AN HOUR

In the interview, Arınç also announced that he met with President Erdoğan for about an hour at the AKP camp.

Not sharing the details of the meeting, Arınç said, “I am not in a position to tell private matters. It is not right for me to say something outside that our President has not expressed, but we had a very positive meeting.”

Stating that they meet with Erdoğan from time to time, Arınç said, “I expressed a few issues both regarding our party and the agenda of Turkey. I also had a few special requests. Thank God, he showed great interest in all of them.”

“TAYYİP BEY IS MY COMRADE”

Arınç said that he has known Erdoğan since 1978 and sees him as a political comrade.

“Even if we are hurt or offended from time to time, we are in an understanding that does not deviate from our comradeship,” said Arınç, and also praised Erdoğan’s leadership in foreign policy.

Arınç argued that Erdoğan’s “resolute leadership” was effective in keeping Turkey out of the process despite the wars around it.

“I AM NOT AN APPLAUSE MACHINE”

In the interview, responding to social media comments that he did not applaud during the new song composed for Erdoğan at the AKP camp, Arınç said he found this discussion “absurd.”

Arınç said, “I am not a person raised among the applause squads in North Korea. I applaud what I love. Sometimes I stand up and applaud, sometimes I applaud from where I sit. I am not an applause machine, my brother. I do whatever comes from my heart.”

“POST-ERDOĞAN” MESSAGE

Arınç’s statements came at a time when discussions regarding Erdoğan’s re-candidacy are continuing within the AKP and around the People's Alliance.

While Arınç found the “our candidate is Erdoğan” statements by Bahçeli and Ömer Çelik normal on one hand, he drew attention to constitutional conditions and the election calendar on the other.

However, giving his most striking message for the “post-Erdoğan” era, Arınç said that Erdoğan could point to a name from within or outside the party when necessary, and made the outburst, “If there are those who say he cannot, they will see. Let them lose sleep.”