Muharrem İnce to Yusuf Tekin: Ungrateful Yusuf!

Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin's remarks, 'Someone from a village in Erzurum can now become a minister; the old Turkey is over, you still haven't understood,' have caused widespread repercussions in public opinion.

'YOU ARE THERE THANKS TO THE REPUBLIC'

Memleket Party Chairman Muharrem İnce responded harshly to Tekin's words in a statement made via social media. İnce stated, 'If you were able to come out of a village in Erzurum and become a minister, it is thanks to this Republic, you ungrateful Yusuf!'

İnce reminded that the Republic's structure, based on equal opportunity and merit, has raised people to high offices even from the most remote villages of Anatolia.

'DEMİREL ALSO CAME FROM A VILLAGE, BUT DURING THE REPUBLICAN ERA'

In the continuation of his statement, İnce noted that Turkey has witnessed similar success stories in the past as well. Asking, 'Didn't Süleyman Demirel come out of the village of İslamköy in Isparta and become President? Did this happen during your era?' İnce emphasized that merit was the basis in the past.

İnce reminded that countless scientists, soldiers, diplomats, and politicians have emerged from all corners of Anatolia since the early years of the Republic.

'THERE WAS MERIT IN THE OLD TURKEY'

İnce responded to Tekin's words that 'the old Turkey is over' with the following expressions:

'If you are saying that there was merit in the past and now it has been abolished; even I can become a minister, if it were the old Turkey, I wouldn't be able to enter the door of the ministry... Look, you are right about that!'