Erdoğan’s reaction to Şebnem Bursalı and Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu over lobster and Rolex: 'Do I need to warn them separately?'

In the AKP, which suffered a defeat in the March 31 Local Elections, the luxurious and ostentatious lifestyles of some MPs have caused reactions within the party as well.

First, AKP İzmir MP Şebnem Bursalı shared moments of herself eating lobster at the Monaco Yacht Club on her social media account. While discussions regarding the lobster post were ongoing, AKP Group Deputy Chairman and Manisa MP Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu's Rolex brand watch, valued at 562 thousand TL, caused a new crisis.

Yenişehirlioğlu shared a photo taken with visitors to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) with the caption "We are the very essence of this nation." In the photo, Yenişehirlioğlu's luxury watch did not go unnoticed. Removing the post after the backlash, Yenişehirlioğlu stated in his explanation: "The reason I deleted this post is as follows: It is due to the insults and profanities directed at our valuable party members from Isparta who were behind me. Even if these uncouth comments are deleted, they are visible on Twitter. However, my post remains on Instagram. Because there, uncouth posts are not visible when deleted. By the way, I will continue to wear my watch, which I acquired through honest means with the sweat of my brow."

LOBSTER AND LUXURY WATCH ON ERDOĞAN'S DESK

These developments, which occurred immediately after the election defeat, also caused discussions within the AKP.

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan convened his party's MYK for the second time after March 31. In the meeting where the election defeat was discussed, in addition to the 'change' agenda, the luxurious lifestyles of AKP MPs were also addressed.

ERDOĞAN WARNED THOSE NAMES ONE BY ONE

It was learned that Erdoğan issued warnings regarding the attention-grabbing social media posts such as the lobster and the expensive branded watch.

"THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT CANNOT BE KNOWN OR FIGURED OUT"

According to the report in Hürriyet; Erdoğan said, "Shouldn't an MP be more careful with what they eat, drink, how they sit, what they wear, and their attire? Do I need to issue a separate warning to MPs on this matter? Can one tell an MP not to share what they eat or wear? These are not things that cannot be known or figured out. Everyone must be aware of the responsibility of the office of MP. MPs cannot position themselves like an ordinary citizen. They cannot say 'I wear a watch like everyone else, I eat like everyone else'."

News Source: 12punto