Ümit Özdağ's reaction to Numan Kurtulmuş over Kurdish language post: 'We know why he did it'

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ answered questions from members of the press after attending the opening ceremony of his party's Denizli provincial headquarters.

Özdağ leveled harsh criticisms regarding the Kurdish language post made by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş from the official TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey) accounts. Stating that this post is contrary to the Constitution, the law, and the Parliament's Rules of Procedure, Özdağ said, "Numan Kurtulmuş knows this. We also know why he did it knowingly. We will explain it when the time comes."

"HOW CAN THE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MAKE A POST IN KURDISH?"

Özdağ emphasized that this situation is against the law, saying, "The Parliament Speaker made a statement in Kurdish from the Parliament's official account from Diyarbakır." Özdağ reacted by saying, "When a person speaks in a language other than Turkish in the Parliament General Assembly, it is not recorded in the minutes. Because this is against the law. If that is the case, how is a post made in Kurdish from the Parliament's official account?"

"WE ARE NOT AGAINST KURDISH"

Stating that they are not against the Kurdish language, Özdağ said, "PKK-sympathizing trolls and some provocateurs ask, 'Are you against Kurdish?'" "No, we are not against Kurdish. Everyone speaks the language they learned from their mother. But there is no such thing in the laws," he said, pointing out that the post cannot be evaluated within a legal framework.

"ELECTION ALLIANCES ARE BECOMING MANDATORY"

In response to another question, Özdağ also made assessments regarding election alliances. Stating that the electoral system makes alliances mandatory, Özdağ said, "This is not just an issue concerning the IYI Party; one should not narrow the scope of the matter. The electoral system makes alliances mandatory. We formed alliances in previous elections, and we will do so again. Depending on the conditions of that day, parties that are close to each other can form alliances."