CHP's Başarır takes a jab at AKP's Bursalı over shoeboxes and lobster: 'If I were you, I would look in the mirror'

The 2026 budget negotiations for the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Presidency have begun at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) General Assembly, convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Bekir Bozdağ. Political parties with groups in the assembly are expressing their views and proposals regarding the budgets.

Başarır söpoke continuedhere. İbrahim Ethem Taş, you said a lot of things, but you said 'those who drink raki in the grave.' Look, in this country, those who drink will drink, and those who don't, won't. The presidents of this country, Mr. Özal, Mr.Demirel, openly drank alcohol inpublic, statingthatheis that sobut thankGod, there hasnever been ajournalistin our history who boarded the President's plane, then got off, and used cocaine in our history," he said.

Bursalı: "The Directorate of Communications is astrategic defense line against all kinds of attacksdirected at Turkey."

AKP İzmir Deputy Şebnem Bursalı, during thebudget discussions for the Directorate of Communications,expressed herviews.explained. Bursalı stated, "The budget of the Directorate of Communications, which we are currently discussing, is far beyond being just an institutional budget. Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey's international standingis the power to shout and protect one's voice, stance, and thesis in the field. Because in the digital age,global operatorsnowoperate with the weapon of perception in every field. Precisely for this reason,the Directorate of Communications is the fortress of truth, the voice of the national will,and against every kind of attack directed at Turkey, it stands as a shield.It is the guardian of our national interests.is a strategic line of defense against the outside. Our duty is notonly to produce information,but also to neutralize misinformation and nip lies in the bud," she said.

"Who were you addressing when you said 'Blue Homeland is a fairy tale'?"

Stating that protecting the truth is equivalent to protecting the homeland,Bursalıincluded the following remarks:

"As the AKP, for 23 years, we have only provided service did not produce. We have left our mark on the spirit of our nation, the memory of our state,and the destiny of these lands.But while we were striving to bring our countryto the level of contemporary civilizations, asAtatürk said,some always tried to stand in our way.We transforming our country into an actor that sets the rules of the gamewhileothers got lost in their own internalconflicts.In the end, we gave confidence to our nation. Others became even more unreliable. We said the Century of Turkey.Some did not abandon the habit ofcartoon politics. We we became the name of the solution.Some chose to be the problem itself. You understand very well why I ammentioning this.You understand very well what I mean.

Those who have evolved into an opposition that is not transparent even in their own municipalities and that goes from door to doorbeggingto cover up corruption files,are those who have dirty ambitions for our country.in thewake of the opposition, I do not expect them to understand Turkey's great marchandits communicationstrategy. Why, you ask? Because establishing coded communication with certain places is your specialty.

For example, when you called the 'Blue Homeland a fairy tale,' who were you addressing? For example, when an ordinary citizen chooses a village headwhat were you aiming at when you said 'it can be measured'? For example, SUAVs for calling them 'model airplanes,' who were you signaling to? It is understood from thesecoded messages thatit is clearly understood that we are here to report the truthwhile struggling with the truth, you even tried tosuffocate the truth. Youtried. While we were delivering the truth to theyouth, you corrupted the digital space with lies, dirty propaganda, and paidtrolls. You are the ones who hide behind fake accountsand poison society.You are the ones who poison society.

Iftoday Turkey's voice is heard in Brussels, echoes in New York,and is listened to withgreat attention in Moscow, the name for thisis leadership. And the name of that leader is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Our President isnot among those who remain silent in the face ofglobal crises, but among those who speak out, andamong those who take action.not, a world leader who stands by the side of those who give direction,and who is the hope of the oppressed and the victimized.is a world leader. Our communication policies are precisely a strategic part of this leadershippart."

Debate over provocations between AKP and CHP

Following the conclusion of the AKP group's speeches, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır stated that AKP deputies Şebnem Bursalı, İbrahim Ethem Taş, and Havva Sibel Söylemez had attacked the CHP group in their speeches,and requested the floor from Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Bekir Bozdağ to respond from thepodium.

Bozdağ to Şahin Usta: "We see here who isattacking."

Grand National Assembly of Turkey Deputy SpFollowing Deputy Speaker Bozdağ's decision to grantBaşarır the right to speakfrom the podium, AKP Group DeputyChair Leyla Şahin Usta objected,requesting the right to speakfor herself as well.requested to be given the floor. Bozdağ, stating that he saw who wasprovokingin the speeches, said to Şahin Usta, "Why are youasking for the floor? There is no provocation against the AKP. No one provoked anyone. Everyone made their criticisms, but there is provocation from the AKP."

Başarır: "The President's ucocainesnorting journalists have never existed in our history."

CHP's Başarırspoke asfollows:

"Ms. Şebnem Bursalı. You mentioned 'corruption.' You said this during the December 17-25 period.said. As a deputy of a partythat has become synonymous with shoeboxes,you said. If I were you, I would look in the mirrorwhile saying this. I would turn into a bright redboiled lobster." İbrahim Ethem Taş, awhole lot of thingsyou said, but you called themthose who drinkat the grave. Look, in this country, those who drink will drink, and those who don't, won't. The presidents of this country,Mr. Özal, Mr.Demirel, openlyopenly drankalcohol inpublicandcriticizedit, but thankgoodness the President's uwho get on and then off private jets, andjournalists who use cocaine have never existed in our history.Look in the mirror, for heaven's sake. I am ashamed. Mersin Deputy Havva, you said, 'Pharaoh.' What is a Pharaoh? It is a word used for therulers who lived in palaces in Egypt; be careful, someone might take it personallyand have you expelledfrom your party."

Şahin Usta: "Those boxes and such that you mention are only your own baklava boxes."

Following Başarır'sspeech at the podium,Bozdağ gave the floor to AKP Group Deputy Chairman Şahin Usta.AKP's Şahin Usta said, "We always talk about clean language, but to come up to thispodium andagain name individuals and criticize what they do regarding their personal lives in this wayis so vile and reprehensible." speaking in such a manner is only fitting for the CHP and Mr. Ali Mahir Başarır. Drinking alcohol at a graveside is something that is neither in thiscountry's traditions,nor in itscustoms, nor in our faith. This is an event that took place. To look at thisbecause they said it,and to try to legitimize it from here is an attemptThere cannot be anything as wrong as your conduct. If you were to say that this is wrong andthat we should do what is necessaryto ensure it is notrepeated,this assembly would applaud you. To praise what has been done and to try to position it asjustifiedisto try to smearis an attitude that could not be more wrong. Those boxes and such that you mentioned are only your baklava boxes. It has also appeared in the records," heresponded.

He claimed thatslander was committed on December 17-25.ing Master Şahin, these viewsexpressed the following:

"It is very clear and obvious that all of these are slander and lies, but without saying a word about theindictment regarding Istanbul, which is currently on the table, everyoneis" If you are calling something "a lie," it is very clearwho filledit. You are the ones who filled that indictment. The lies and slanders you committedare stealingthis nation's money.eating and drinking andstacking towers of money in front of cameras and then claiming to the nation from this podium that 'we are clean' is something that only suits you.Do not rely on the nation's understanding and discernment,rely on yourselves. Only youcan tell that these liesare lies. You can onlybury your headin the sand and talkyou are. When all theslanders and lies you have made are exposed, youjust laughit off. Even your own Chairmanduring theelectioncampaign chcame out and promised something. Then he said: 'What is right? What is wrong?' Well, from now on, you, my dear friends, decide according to the sentences that come out ofMr. Erdoğan's mouth."

Following theremarks of theMaster, Başarır took the floor from his seat andused the following expressions:

"Look, here, 'This one drank, that one drank.' I am saddened to talk about these things, but I will say it again: Consuming alcohol in this country is not a crime. But the President's airtraveling around constantly and flying on that plane with my moneyis a crime! Be ashamed of this,be ashamed of this, be ashamed!"

Responding to Ali Mahir Başarır'sremarks by taking the floor from her seat, Usta said, "Mr. Speaker, they areskilled at distorting what is said,that is their specialty." We know very well that consuming alcohol in this country is notillegal, we state this very clearly, but drinking rakı at agraveside andthen trying to defend itis wrong, that is what weare saying. Whoeverused illegal substances has been caught and is currently under arrest and on trial. If you notice, they have been arrested and are being tried. Your own party leader also attended that person's program. emerged. The agenda of the General Assemblyis not to discuss here those who are being triedin court. We trust our courts.Mr. Mahir is overstepping his boundsand can never, under any circumstances, make such a claimagainst our group. Look at yourself; whathappened in this General Assemblyat the timeWe know very well what state they have reached. How can you accuse this group ofbuyingcocaine," he said.

In the General Assembly, for awhile longer, CHP and AKP deputiescontinued to argue.