Call for 'Şebnem Bursalı' from Erdoğan's former speechwriter! 'While the neighborhood burns...'

AKP İzmir Deputy and Member of the Digital Media Commission Şebnem Bursalı's sharing of a photo of a lobster she ate at the Monaco Yacht Club on her social media account has sparked controversy.

Bursalı's post drew reactions not only from the opposition but also from within her own party.

Following the reactions, Bursalı issued a statement defending herself, claiming that her post was distorted in an attempt to make people forget the cable car disaster in Antalya.

Another reaction to Şebnem Bursalı came from a former speechwriter for AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Yeni Şafak columnist Aydın Ünal, in addition to reacting to Bursalı, also offered advice to the AKP, which fell to the position of the second party in its history for the first time with 35.49 percent in the March 31 Local Administration elections.

Ünal said, "If Erdoğan breaks the fingers wagged with arrogance from the Presidential Complex, for example, if he settles accounts with the leaks who share lobster photos from Monaco, and puts those who comb their hair while the neighborhood burns out on the street, he will be able to win back the religious voters."

Here is the relevant section of Ünal's article;

"Erdoğan is aware of the state of the economy. He has 4 years ahead of him without elections, and with the full authority he has given to Mehmet Şimşek, he will put the economy on the right track. It is clear that he is the sole harbor regarding security. He will not have difficulty in gathering the large right-wing/conservative mass again. In this recovery process, it will be technically difficult to win back the hearts of the religious. Because it will be necessary to resolutely go after all allegations regarding decay, that is, to 'return to the essence.' If Erdoğan acts ruthlessly, breaks up gangs and cliques, cleans the neighborhood of mercenaries and parasites, restores sincerity and humility, rebuilds a libertarian and embracing language, for example, if he breaks the fingers wagged with arrogance from the Presidential Complex, for example, if he settles accounts with the leaks who share lobster photos from Monaco, and puts those who comb their hair while the neighborhood burns out on the street, he will be able to win back the religious voters.

'IT WOULD BE A UNIQUE STAGE FOR BOTH THE SURVIVAL OF TURKEY AND FOR SOCIAL PEACE'

Maintaining an MHP that has distanced itself from racists/skull-collectors and nullifying the efforts to hollow out the MHP will also make the People's Alliance stronger. Let us even add this: In the face of those who claim to be Turkish racists and walk in the same direction as the PKK, the MHP can easily come to a line that is at peace with conservative Kurds. This would be a unique stage for both the survival of Turkey and for social peace. It could overturn many equations not only in Turkey but also in the region. First and foremost, even a correct language and a correct discourse could open this door. In summary, recovery in the economy, stability in internal and external security, a return to the essence, and Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood will completely reverse the current picture. The AK Party and the People's Alliance will be preferred by large masses for many more years."