Metin Külünk makes agenda-setting remarks: 'They are putting serious pressure on Erdoğan'

On 12punto's popular program 'Unfiltered with Özge Uzun,' experienced presenter and journalist Özge Uzun hosted Metin Külünk, a deputy for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) during the 24th, 25th, and 26th terms. 

While providing candid answers to Özge Uzun's questions, Külünk made statements that will spark debate and remain on the agenda for a long time. The remarks of Metin Külünk, one of the prominent faces of the AK Party, regarding the economy in particular, drew attention. Külünk also used the phrase 'Mr. Erdoğan should leave at the peak' in reference to the President.

Külünk spoke specifically about recent allegations regarding 'decay,' the 'state of society,' and claims that the realities of the country are being hidden by President Erdoğan.

'THEY ARE PUTTING SERIOUS PRESSURE ON THE PRESIDENT'

Stating that Erdoğan is facing the same problem that all leaders experience, Külünk said, 'Mustafa Kemal also faced very serious problems. While Mustafa Kemal's leadership was on a very different level, the role his inner circle assigned to Gazi Mustafa Kemal was on another level. Abdulhamid was also a leader who reigned as sultan for many years. But when you look at it, he had a very major test with his inner circle and was in a position where he paid the price for not intervening in the decay of his circle.' 

Stating that he does not mean to say 'President Erdoğan is good, but his circle is bad,' Külünk continued his words as follows:

'Coming to the present day, there is a model that says, in exchange for buying F-35s, let's roll over debt with debt, and by pressuring our President, let's take Turkey and say, "Shelve the S-400s, remain indifferent to the rise in Asia," and make Turkey a country under Western control again. I see clearly from open information sources that they are putting serious pressure on the President.'

'THERE ARE FACTIONS INSIDE THAT WANT TO HAND TURKEY OVER TO THE WEST'

You may be an opponent. Turkey is passing through a tunnel. During this passage through the tunnel, the position of the leaders directly concerns every citizen in this country. There is a reality. Turkey is at a historic threshold. There is a neo-liberal faction inside that wants to hand Turkey back to the West, which began before 1945; there are neo-liberals who practice Islamism, and there are right-wingers. This is the common starting point for all of them. Let Turkey stay on the sidelines in the face of Asia's rise, let Turkey continue its path with the West again. For this, Mr. Erdoğan should abandon his line from July 15, abandon the independence line he adopted after July 15. They did this for Mustafa Kemal as well. Do you know what the West wants in return for this? The rise of China, the rise of Asia.'

'In the face of Asia's central role in global trade, they want to make us fight Russia and Iran by acting as a proxy for the US. On behalf of whom? To prevent the US's own internal collapse. On the other side, they want to turn Anatolian lands into a US base again against Asia. Well, we say this: Haven't we been strategic partners since the moment Incirlik was given as a secret base in Anatolia, since the process we joined NATO? So what kind of strategic alliance is this that will feed DAESH, produce and feed FETÖ? They will openly say that they will use these directly against us.' 

Speaking about the economic crisis, Külünk said that 40 percent of society is experiencing serious problems, while 10 percent is 'barely getting by.' 

'ERDOĞAN WAS THE BROTHER WHO STOOD BY THE PEASANT, THE FARMER, AND THE LOW-INCOME EARNER'

Despite this situation, Külünk stated that 30 percent of the remaining 50 percent of the population is moving upward under any circumstances. Stating that the wealth of the top 1 percent of the population controls 40 percent of society, Külünk said, 'They are never touched.' Külünk continued his remarks on the economy as follows:

'If there is a problem at the dinner table, that is where life hurts. That is why I have expressed it many times since July 3, 2023. Mr. Erdoğan's power came from the street. Because Mr. Erdoğan was the older brother, the sibling who stood by the laborer, the worker, the tradesman, the low-income earner, the farmer, and the peasant at every moment; he was "Our Erdoğan," he was "Our Tayyip." This was the strongest strategic point. This power base [was affected by] the financial turbulence we entered after the currency attack that started especially after 2019, and the subsequent process of COVID, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the earthquake.'

'YOU WILL ALL RUN AWAY'

'Mr. Şimşek has spoken about the improvements in recent indicators. After these improvements are reflected in the tables of the retiree, the farmer, the low-income earner, and the fixed-income earner, the power that keeps Mr. Erdoğan standing is not capital. I am addressing those who push Turkey to fight on behalf of the West against Iran and Russia, and the capital circles. You go and fight Iran and Russia! Because in such a situation, you will not stay here. You will all run away.'

Continuing his evaluations on the economy by criticizing the 'upper crust' and the 'capital class,' Külünk continued his words:

'On the night of July 15, President Erdoğan came to Istanbul on his private plane. He embraced our nation. At that time, those who were trying to flee abroad by preparing their private planes, those who closed their curtains, those who turned off their phones. Those capital circles, you know. The brands of their cars started to change, they became classier. That night, the low-income earners were going to lie in front of the tanks, the low-income earners were going to raise their heads against the planes; the wealthy did not lie in the streets for a month. My poor people lay there, and in the morning they got up and went to work. My poor people were willing to die. My poor people will be willing to protect the independence of this country. When this country goes through a difficult period, none of those who got rich from Turkey will put their hands under the stone. I am shouting at the top of my lungs to impose a wealth tax. Impose it.'

'THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER THEIR SPOILEDNESS WITH RELIGIOSITY'

Stating that the wealthy multiplied their fortunes during the AK Party's period of stability, Külünk said, 'A seriously large amount. The circles that got rich thanks to the AK Party, the narrow-elite circles, who are no different from the wealthy before the AK Party' he said.

Upon being reminded of the statement that 'children who multiplied their wealth with the AK Party drink coffee for 10,000 TL,' Külünk said, 'Of course there are. There is no difference between the spoiledness of the segment that benefited from wealth transfer before the AK Party and the models of those who got rich during the AK Party period, sometimes with arrogance and looking down on others. Because these models, those who talk in front of the nation saying "Hz. Abu Bakr" while practicing a spoiledness without Hz. Abu Bakr in front of people, using religious psychology to cover their spoiledness with religiosity, the society is extremely and rightly irritated.' he said.

'OUR NATION IS TIRED OF THE USE OF RELIGIOUS PSYCHOLOGY'

Özge Uzun, 'I am saddened that my country has come to this state' saying, 'We feel like we are constantly being scolded by those who govern Turkey.' 

Pointing out that citizens are constantly treated as if they are at fault, Uzun asked Külünk why this is happening.

Külünk said the following:

'After March 31, Mr. Erdoğan's sociology is eroding. Mr. Erdoğan has to ask and answer this question you asked himself, because the street has moved past the sentence, "Our President is very good, his circle is very bad." I express with sadness that it is directly discussing our President himself. The trust in our President from 3-4 years ago is trending vertically downward. "Mr. Erdoğan is unaware of any of this"—that has disappeared. This might have been accepted as a reality a long time ago, but today, if this is being spoken about so openly in every field of life, at the beginning of every news story, our President must put the March 31 ballot box results at the center.' 

'Our dear nation wrote such a clear letter to our President at the ballot box; it said, "We are tired of the unmeasured, ruleless model in local governments. We are tired of this being done by using religious psychology and hiding behind your name. We are tired of the words about this building and that building we built that are constantly put in front of us. We are tired of the organizations in politics hiding behind your name, politics ceasing to be done for the people, turning into a profit-interest relationship through a model created over public resources by building a local feudalism, and the despotism produced through you at the points where they are located."'  

The nation is also angry that such a rotten opposition, which has indexed itself to the West, is being made into a hope.'

'THE COUNTRY WILL TALK ABOUT EARLY ELECTIONS IN 2025'

In response to Uzun's question about whether President Erdoğan will see this, Külünk replied, 'If steps that will cause the kitchen to relax are delayed until the end of this year, if he does not activate the accountability mechanism that will turn the psychology of "what they did goes unpunished" for those who have become feudal lords of politics in the cities, I say very clearly that this country will talk about early elections in 2025. Because the street is moving out of the critical dimension and into the dimension of anger in seeking a remedy for the helplessness it has fallen into.' 

'MY EFFORT IS FOR ERDOĞAN TO HAND OVER HIS DUTY WHILE BEING REMEMBERED FONDLY'

Continuing the program, Özge Uzun reminded Külünk of a photo from years ago with President Erdoğan and asked, 'Do you miss your friend?'

Stating that he loves President Erdoğan with an 'older brother-younger brother' bond, Külünk said, 'Our President will eventually hand over the leadership of the state, just like the Presidency. I want him to hand it over beautifully. I want him to hand it over while being remembered fondly. I do not want him to hand it over with the memory of difficulties. This is the requirement of both friendship and law. We are in favor of this. Our President has achievements and successes that he has brought to this country; there is a success story. But alongside the successes, there are shortcomings, mistakes, and gaps. This is quite reasonable. What I want is this: There is a way to hand things over at the most beautiful peak of everything. I am in the effort for that. None of the places we occupy are our property. I am in the effort for this era to be remembered as it was on the night of July 15, to have that flavor. Ultimately, he is the one who will make the decisions.'

'WE CAME FROM THERE, WE SHOULD NOT DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM THERE'

Recalling past memories with President Erdoğan, Külünk also stated the following:

'When we were working together in Unkapanı, we would eat cucumber pickles and Tulum cheese in the morning. In 1985, at the provincial building, he was chopping tomatoes, and we had spread newspaper sheets on the tables. There were tomatoes, cheese, bread, and tea there. These are the things that raised us. That belief. We should not distance ourselves from there. People loved that place. Conscience is there, justice is there, elegance is there.'

Click to watch the video