'Our President gave me the right to be elected' remarks stir up parliament

The municipal council meeting in the Turgutlu district of Manisa witnessed rising tensions following a speech. Taking the floor for an unscheduled address during the February ordinary meeting, AKP council member Nevim Baş made remarks regarding the anniversary of the February 28 process.

SPOKE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FEBRUARY 28

In her speech, Nevim Baş touched upon the grievances experienced by women wearing headscarves in the past. Pointing to the process that made it possible for her to take the floor in the municipal council today while wearing a headscarf, Baş expressed her gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for this situation.

MAYOR TOOK THE FLOOR

Speaking after Baş's remarks, Turgutlu Mayor Çetin Akın drew attention to the historical process of women's suffrage. Akın responded by saying, 'I would have been happy if you had also commemorated Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who gave women the right to vote and be elected.'

“OUR PRESIDENT GAVE ME THE RIGHT TO BE ELECTED”

Following these words, Nevim Baş returned to the podium and continued her statement as follows:

“Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gave women the right to vote and be elected. I congratulate women who do not wear headscarves and celebrate their day. However, our President gave me the right to be elected on October 31, 2013.”

Following these remarks by Nevim Baş, Mayor Çetin Akın took the floor again. In his speech, Akın used the following expressions:

"There is no political gain to be had from these arguments anymore; you are being very ridiculous. Know your history and the past before you speak. I wish you would say something about pensioners, the financial struggles of tradespeople, or the quagmire of drugs and bribery. I wish you would touch upon the bleeding wounds of society."