First response from MHP to Dervişoğlu's remarks on Bahçeli: 'It is not his place or right'

While IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu stated in his remarks in Samsun yesterday, "Devlet Bahçeli has neither the right nor the authority to represent Turkish nationalism. Turkish nationalism is not without an owner," the response to Dervişoğlu came from MHP Secretary General İsmet Büyükataman.

IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu criticized MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, the architect of the new reconciliation process, in his speech in Samsun.

Reminding that Bahçeli invited the terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan to the Parliament, Dervişoğlu said, "A nationalist leader emerged and invited Abdullah Öcalan to the podium of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. I told him, 'That terrorist leader cannot enter the Grand National Assembly of Turkey without stepping over our dead bodies.' Devlet Bahçeli is not the only person to speak on behalf of Turkish nationalism in this country. Devlet Bahçeli has neither the right nor the authority to represent Turkish nationalism. Turkish nationalism is not without an owner."

A response to these words from Dervişoğlu came from MHP Secretary General İsmet Büyükataman.

Büyükataman noted the following in a post on his X account:

"It is not the place or right of IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu to question the Nationalist Movement Party and our leader, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, regarding Turkish nationalism.

His systematic attacks on our party and our leader to maintain his political existence show that he is in a state of complete desperation.

It is absurd for the IYI Party, which tries to imprison Turkish nationalism within paradigms drawn from foreign capitals, to attempt to lecture on nationalism.

The Nationalist Movement Party is the sole representative of Turkish nationalism in the political arena. Our party has earned a place in the hearts of our noble nation by paying great prices for Turkish nationalism to be represented on the political stage.

Engaging in the impudence of denying this plain truth is to deny history and facts.

Müsavat Dervişoğlu's words consist solely of an effort to exploit Turkish nationalism for the sake of political gain.

Dervişoğlu and his party are doomed to sink as they struggle within the cycle of a narrow-minded politics.

The Nationalist Movement Party will never allow Turkish nationalism to be made a subject of exploitation."

It is not the place or right of IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu to question the Nationalist Movement Party and our leader, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, regarding Turkish nationalism.
His systematic attacks on our party and our leader to maintain his political existence show that he is in a state of complete desperation…

— İsmet Büyükataman (@buyukataman) May 19, 2025

News Source: 12punto