MHP Aydın Provincial Chair removed from office: He had said 'the nation is not grateful'
MHP Aydın Provincial Chair Alıcık has been removed from his post. Alıcık had previously said 'the nation is not grateful,' and shortly after these remarks, a photograph of him sitting at a gambling table emerged.
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The MHP has decided to remove Aydın Provincial Chair Haluk Alıcık from his post following the emergence of a photograph showing him at a gambling table in Cyprus.
Following the backlash caused by the photo, the MHP dismissed Alıcık from his position.
STATEMENT FROM ALICIK
In a statement titled 'To the Public and Our Esteemed Organization,' MHP Aydın Provincial Chair Haluk Alıcık said, 'It is clearly evident that attempts are being made to damage the institutional identity of our Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) through reports that do not reflect the truth, which have been deliberately distorted and circulated about me over the last two weeks.'
In this process, with the awareness that our cause, organizational discipline, and the reputation of our party are more valuable than myself, and as a result of comprehensive consultations with my fellow travelers and comrades, I have decided to resign from my position as MHP Aydın Provincial Chair, which I have been carrying out with great honor, responsibility, and pride for 6 years.
This decision is not an expression of stepping back or giving up. On the contrary, it is a conscious and responsible stance taken to ensure that our party's name does not remain in the shadow of any controversy or perception operation. As I have done until today, I will continue to serve our cause with loyalty, under the command of our party and our esteemed organization, in the direction drawn by our Wise Leader,' he stated.
MHP'S YALÇIN ALSO MADE A STATEMENT
Targeting the media in a statement on his social media account, Yalçın announced that Alıcık was removed from his post 'due to these publications.'
Stating that "The MHP does not and will not allow any speculation regarding the character and actions of those serving in its organizations and other cadres," Yalçın used the following expressions:
"We expect the same sensitivity and honorable stance shown by the MHP from the CHP regarding their mayors who are being tried and against whom dozens of allegations have been made. Let them go ahead. Let's see if the CHP can display the same honest attitude."
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
A photograph of MHP Aydın Provincial Chair Haluk Alıcık at a gambling table in a hotel in Cyprus had surfaced in the public domain.
While the photograph in question spread across local news sites in Aydın, Alıcık said the following in his statement regarding the matter:
"It is a hotel we went to for a program. When my friends said they were downstairs, I went down too. There were other friends of ours in that frame as well. But they cropped it and shared only me. They are assassinating my character. I have nothing to do with gambling."
Alıcık had also drawn backlash with a statement he made on January 16. Speaking about the expected raise in pensions, Alıcık said, "I am very disturbed by this; this nation does not once show gratitude for its situation, and secondly, its expectations regarding money are increasing. A lack of gratitude will be the end of this country, that is what I fear."