Ahmet Davutoğlu responds to 'photo' controversy: Showing the necessary respect to the President is our duty

Regarding the discussions about the photo of political party leaders with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Parliament's opening reception, Davutoğlu said the following:

"Just as the first signs of spring appear in the air before Nevruz, they also appear in the political climate on October 1st. Last year, Mr. Bahçeli shook hands with DEM, and we said, 'That's good,' and supported it.

Mr. Özgür Özel sat side-by-side with Mr. Erdoğan at the reception. We said, 'Normalization is good, you are doing the right thing.' Well, opposition trolls attacked us just because we sat down.

My stance is very clear. I have never bowed to anyone. Just as we did not bow to the treacherous pro-government trolls who demanded total obedience to the ruling power and attacked us for calling out wrongs, we will never bow to the opposition trolls who criticize us in the harshest way for attending a state ceremony with the President.

When it comes to state protocol, we do not refrain from observing it. Even if we criticize the President outside, as the elected President, it is our duty to show the necessary respect within the country and at state ceremonies."

News Source: 12punto