It has become clear who Devlet Bahçeli was referring to in his Ferdi Tayfur post

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli shared footage last week of himself walking alone. The fact that Bahçeli added a song by Ferdi Tayfur to the video, which included the lyrics "I became a friend to you, you became an enemy," sparked widespread discussion.

It has now become clear who was being referred to in Bahçeli's video.

SAYMAZ SPOKE WITH YALÇIN

Journalist İsmail Saymaz, speaking on a program he attended on Sözcü TV, announced the reason for the 'musical reference' after stating that he had directed this question to MHP Deputy Chairman Semih Yalçın. Saymaz stated that Yalçın indicated this reference was directed specifically at IYI Party Chair Meral Akşener and members of the IYI Party. While noting that the party, which is heading toward a convention, is going through difficult days, Yalçın added, "Bahçeli does not want this party to dissolve for the sake of the continuity of the political institution."

Here are İsmail Saymaz's statements regarding the matter:

"I called Semih Yalçın today regarding this incident. I only spoke with Semih Yalçın and one other MHP official. I asked Semih Hoca, 'Who is being referred to here?' I had previously heard from another MHP member that Numan Kurtulmuş was being referred to. They had conveyed to me that it was a message to Numan Kurtulmuş. Then Semih Yalçın said that was not the case. He said, 'This is a message directly to Meral Akşener and the IYI Party members who left us.' I asked why, and he said, 'There are convention processes in two days, so it is a post addressing them.'"

"WHY IS BAHÇELİ SO CONCERNED WITH THE IYI PARTY?"

"In other words, he said it was a reference to them in the sense of, 'Well, you left us, did you see what happened to you?' I asked, 'Why is Devlet Bahçeli so concerned with this matter?' In response, he said, 'He does not want this party to dissolve for the sake of the development of Turkish democracy and the continuity of the political institution. If they dissolve—and they are heading toward dissolution—some will already move to the AK Party. Transitions to the CHP have begun, some will come to us; he believes this has no benefit to politics.' He added, 'But this is not interference in internal affairs; it is sharing an opinion.'"

"OUR DOORS ARE CLOSED"

"And he also made this emphasis: One of the three candidates will win. The others should not think, 'If I get offended, I will go to the MHP, the doors are open to me at the MHP.' He says our doors are closed. But on the other hand, this clip is a well-prepared clip. Also, it popularized a forgotten Ferdi song; I think it's a good song too. It was a good choice, but why didn't he come yesterday, for example?"

"BAHÇELİ IS IN GREAT SHAPE"

"It was constantly said yesterday that he did not come due to health reasons. Devlet Bahçeli is in great shape. He doesn't look like someone who didn't come due to health reasons at all. From what I hear, he is also angry at Numan Kurtulmuş. They think that Numan Kurtulmuş and a team within the AK Party that includes Kurtulmuş are distant from cooperation with the MHP and are closer to meeting and contacting the DEM Party. They are particularly uncomfortable with the DEM Party being included in this scope during the current constitutional drafting process, and they said that by not attending the April 23 reception, he actually sent a message to Numan Kurtulmuş as well."