İYİ Party Chairman Dervişoğlu answers the 'presidential candidacy' question: He puts an end to it

İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu answered Armağan Çağlayan’s questions about the current agenda on EKOL TV.

When asked about the possibility of the İYİ Party providing a member for the process commission proposed by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, Dervişoğlu said, “These need to be discussed and decided upon in the party’s authorized bodies.”

Emphasizing that the purpose of the commission must be understood, Dervişoğlu asked, “What will this commission be established for? A process is being experienced in Turkey that is not known to the public, built upon a perception campaign expressed only through slogans. This is called a 'terror-free Turkey.' The name is very nice, but one cannot have an idea about what negative consequences it will lead to. Therefore, the convening of a commission in the TBMM regarding a process carried out behind closed doors brings with it certain concerns about the purpose for which this commission will convene. What will this commission discuss? If a process is being conducted behind closed doors and the process will not be discussed in this commission, what will they talk about?”

Dervişoğlu said, “First of all, Abdullah Öcalan is demanding the commission. The armed organizations that are his extensions are demanding it. A political party that is also his extension is demanding it. But it is MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli who is pronouncing the word 'commission.' I am acting with prejudice regarding approaching such issues with distance. I am saying it clearly, I have a prejudice on this matter. Because I do not believe this will be a job for the benefit of Turkey. Whether or not to participate in the commission is not solely my decision. I will also discuss this in the party’s authorized bodies.”

“THEIR INTENTIONS AND GOALS ARE DANGEROUS”

Noting that everyone would want a terror-free Turkey, Dervişoğlu made the following statements:

“But when asked whether Turkey’s unitary structure should be damaged, whether the definition of citizenship should be changed, whether the way should be opened for us to be remembered as having lost against the organization, whether you would allow the establishment of federated states within our borders; when asked whether you want Öcalan to be released, everyone would express that they would stand against it just like me. A terror-free Turkey is something that has been turned into a slogan. The name is nice, but I hold the conviction that its intentions and goals are dangerous. What is expressed in the organization’s so-called dissolution congress does not contain decisions that would indicate that the organization has abandoned any of its goals. We are facing an armed organization that claims to have won against the Republic of Turkey. Therefore, I do not believe that the decisions to be taken with them, or the processes arranged under their guidance, will yield positive results for the future of Turkey and the Turkish nation.”

“SIRRI SÜREYYA ÖNDER CALLED AND SAID ‘LET US INFORM YOU’”

Pointing out that he did not receive an invitation but that the state should inform him about the process, Dervişoğlu said, “What information should I get from the messengers of İmralı! When Sırrı Süreyya Önder made that visit, he also called me and said, ‘Let us inform you about this. If you are not doing this openly, let me come to your office in Parliament and inform you privately.’ I said that I would not talk about anything behind closed doors, and that whatever I talk about, I would talk about in front of the public. I also researched what they talked about with other political parties. Nothing important was conveyed. Neither the DEM executives nor the deputies belonging to the ruling party know how the process is managed or what bargains were made with whom. Since the answer to the question of 'who knows' cannot be put forward by me, I can only make an evaluation by looking at what is being talked about. Erdoğan knows. Bahçeli knows, which is why he is putting in so much effort. He is even making certain posts that will pave the way for threatening those who oppose it through the mouths of authorized bodies.”

“THE CONCLUSION IS THAT HE HAS FINALIZED HIS CANDIDACY”

When asked about President Erdoğan’s statement, “I have no concern about being a candidate,” Dervişoğlu said, “The conclusion that he has finalized his candidacy emerges from these expressions of Erdoğan. He is saying, ‘I have no concern about being a candidate. Candidacy is in my pocket.’ Depending on the results of this process being carried out, he is saying, ‘I have found the 360 majority that can make an early election decision in Turkey.’”

“IT CEASES TO BE A DEMOCRACY”

Pointing out that for Erdoğan to be a presidential candidate again, either an early election decision must be made or a constitutional amendment must be pursued, Dervişoğlu said, “If you look at the issue as 'I will use the means at my disposal against my political interlocutors as I wish,' both your own democratic attitude and whether the regime in Turkey is a democracy are debated. In countries where these are experienced, the social order cannot be prevented from being under threat. If we circumvent this constitution, if we give the fourth and fifth opportunity to a person who has already been elected three times, this business ceases to be a democracy. Such a search is neither appropriate nor meaningful. Erdoğan had said this in 2023 as well: ‘I have no concern about candidacy.’ He had said, ‘This is my last candidacy.’ Let Erdoğan come out and say, ‘I have no concern about candidacy. Because the constitution says my term of office is over.’ We can think that Erdoğan has this in mind, but Erdoğan’s circle does not allow it, his partners never allow it. He has partners who say, ‘You cannot leave and go.’”

“I HAVE RECORDED THE DEPARTURES”

When asked about the transfer of deputies, Dervişoğlu said, “These are managed from a certain center. At the very beginning, the CHP added some deputies from us to itself. I warned the CHP at that time and said, ‘They are using you to legitimize those who will go to the AK Party.’ After I made this notification, there were those they took from us, but I bore these with tolerance. I did not say anything negative about anyone who left, but I stated that I recorded them. Some of those who left may not have found a response to their expectations, they may have thought, ‘I must open a new path for myself’ out of concern for political fortune. I said nothing to them, but there are also departures that could be considered betrayal. I recorded them. The time will come, and I will explain their background.”

“ERDOĞAN CANNOT RISK DOING THIS BY REFERENDUM”

Dervişoğlu said, “It is understood that these transitions from party to party will continue. Because if there is to be a constitutional amendment, Erdoğan cannot risk doing this by referendum. He will seek a qualified majority of 400 in the TBMM. If he cannot reach it, he will keep the infrastructure that can make an early election decision with 360 secure. For this, I find it likely that games will be played not only on transitions from one party to another, but also on people who can vote in constitutional votes in the party they are in. Politicians have a responsibility to protect the honor of democracy. If the virtue of politics is debated, the virtue of democracy also becomes a subject of debate. It is of no benefit to anyone to show Turkey as a country that could cause our virtue to be questioned.”

“EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IS TO PAVE THE WAY FOR ERDOĞAN TO BE ELECTED ONCE MORE”

Stating that there is a ruling group in Turkey that sees itself as authorized to do anything, Dervişoğlu said, “There is a palace regime in Turkey. There is an autocracy and a retinue created by it. One should stay away from things that will whet the appetite of all of these. I had voiced the phrase 'whet the appetite' when the early election issue came to the agenda. At that time, neither Özdağ nor İmamoğlu had been arrested. But I had expressed my concern that those whose appetites were whetted from the moment an early election was pronounced could resort to unlawful acts aimed at the liquidation of their political rivals. What is happening now is, in fact, this. I am saying this by including the 'terror-free Turkey' campaign; all of it is to pave the way for Erdoğan to be elected once more.”

Regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from his post as Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality after being arrested within the scope of an investigation against him, Dervişoğlu said, “The reason he is inside is aimed at preventing his candidacy.”

IS HE CONSIDERING A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY?

Answering the question, “Are you considering being a presidential candidate?”, Dervişoğlu said, “I do not believe that Turkey will find peace before transitioning to a parliamentary democratic system. Therefore, I am not considering candidacy.” Dervişoğlu added, “If there is a plan that will ensure Turkey’s transition to a parliamentary democratic system; political parties are established to be in power, therefore there is nothing more natural than being a candidate for governing positions.”