MHP Chairman directed his reaction at remarks from three years ago
It has been learned that the remarks by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, which were perceived as criticism of Treasury and Finance Minister Şimşek, were actually intended for Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş, who used similar expressions in 2021.
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Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli had released a message for the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day.
Although it was interpreted that the person he was reacting to in this message was Mehmet Şimşek, it has been learned that these individuals were actually Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş.
According to a report by Gazete Duvar, the intended targets were not Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, who spoke two days ago, but rather İmamoğlu and Yavaş, who used similar expressions three years ago.
In his written statement, Devlet Bahçeli had used the following expressions: "No one will be able to deny that the corrupt mentality that serves to devalue the Turkish nation with the term 'local people' is the primary culprit of the scandals we have been exposed to in recent days."
It had been discussed that these words by Bahçeli were directed at Mehmet Şimşek, who had said, "There is very strong interest in Turkish assets. We need to convince the local people that inflation will fall."
İMAMOĞLU AND YAVAŞ ALSO USED THAT EXPRESSION
On the other hand, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu had signed a memorandum of understanding on July 27, 2021, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Turkey Representation regarding cooperation for persons provided with temporary protection, international protection applicants and status holders, and asylum seekers.
At the signing ceremony, İmamoğlu had said, "The memorandum of understanding we will sign today will strengthen the work we are already carrying out with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on this matter and will provide truly important support for all the work we will carry out in the coming days with the aim of ensuring that immigrants and refugees live together in peace with the 'local people'."
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş also stated in July 2021, during a visit by the UNHCR Turkey Representation, that they supported an education project for the integration of immigrants and said, "Of course, I became aware of the project when I became the new mayor, but we support the project. Arguments and fights between refugees and the 'local people' have started to increase everywhere in our country. As a mayor, I do not have such a perspective."