Explosive claim from former AKP deputy: 'Devlet Bey could come out tomorrow, break the alliance, and take Turkey to an early election'

Hüseyin Kocabıyık, a former İzmir deputy and one of the former aides to AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has made striking remarks regarding the balances within the People's Alliance. Kocabıyık, who was expelled from the AKP following his statement that "Erdoğan did the coup to himself" after the conviction of Ekrem İmamoğlu, drew attention to the invisible power dynamics of the alliance.

Stating that "The MHP is the party that enabled the AK Party to be in power today," Kocabıyık added, "Therefore, what is visible today is very clear. The MHP influences the AK Party on many issues."

"DEVLET BEY COULD STEP OUT TOMORROW, BREAK THE ALLIANCE, AND TAKE TURKEY TO AN ELECTION"

Referring to the political history of MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, Kocabıyık said, "Devlet Bey is telling Erdoğan today, 'You cannot leave, you must remain as president,' but you never know. He could step out tomorrow morning, break the alliance, and take Turkey to an election."

Touching upon Bahçeli's unexpected moves, Kocabıyık stated that such outbursts have become a concept in Turkish politics, noting that a political category called "Devlet Bey surprises" has emerged.

Speaking to İklim Öngel from Cumhuriyet, Kocabıyık recalled past political turning points and continued:

"Of course, while seeking the answer to this question, one must also consider the moves Bahçeli has made throughout his political journey. For example, how did Turkey enter the 2002 elections where the AK Party came to power? How were the 367 crisis and the headscarf crisis resolved? How did we go from the June 7 elections to the November 1 elections and the 2017 referendum that changed the regime? Devlet Bey is telling Erdoğan today, 'You cannot leave, you must remain as president,' but you never know. He could step out tomorrow morning, break the alliance, and take Turkey to an election. I know Devlet Bey closely. There is a category in our political life called 'Devlet Bey surprises'."

"HE COULD CALL FOR AN EARLY ELECTION AT ANY MOMENT"

Emphasizing Bahçeli's unexpected steps in politics, Kocabıyık argued that he could call for an early election in the near future:

"Devlet Bahçeli could call for an early election at any moment. He could fall into a very serious disagreement with the government on any issue and say, 'Turkey must renew itself, the national will must be refreshed,' have no doubt. I said it a moment ago, look at his political chronology, and you will understand this."

"ERDOĞAN'S CANDIDACY DEPENDS ON İMAMOĞLU"

Kocabıyık also made striking statements regarding the debates over whether Erdoğan will be a candidate in the next election.

Responding to the question, "We frequently see debates about what will happen after Erdoğan. We hear names like Hakan Fidan, his son Bilal Erdoğan, and his son-in-law Selçuk Bayraktar. Of course, there are also those who say 'Erdoğan will be a candidate again.' What is your opinion?" he replied:

"Those who engage in these debates do not know Erdoğan. Mr. Tayyip is the leader who uses measurement and evaluation methods better than anyone else in the world. There is no other leader in the world who commissions as many polls and develops policies based on polls as he does. If necessary, he will have 50 polls conducted and look at 'who will win the election.' Assuming he cannot be a candidate again, he will make whoever comes out on top in the polls the candidate; Erdoğan does not play to lose. There is no need to debate this."

Kocabıyık linked the possibility of Erdoğan's candidacy to the situation of Ekrem İmamoğlu:

"As I see it, there is only one condition for Tayyip Erdoğan's candidacy. That is Ekrem İmamoğlu. Erdoğan cannot be a candidate unless İmamoğlu is released. They are connected. Neither the CHP members, nor the AKP members, nor my own friends understand what I am saying.

An election held before İmamoğlu is released from prison would not be legitimate. Because you have taken an ambitious candidate, behind whom there are millions, and thrown him into prison, liquidating him through the judiciary. No one believes the corruption allegations. If İmamoğlu is released, some constitutional problems regarding Erdoğan's candidacy might be overcome."

Responding to the question, "Should the CHP make this a condition?" he said:

"No, it is not a condition. Such a democratization, a climate of democracy could emerge. Look, bring to mind again that 'Legitimacy is indispensable.' Everyone should think again today about why Deniz Baykal lifted Erdoğan's political ban in the 2002 elections. Because the CHP chairman, political science associate professor Deniz Baykal, saw that a system in which Erdoğan was not included after the November 3 elections would lack legitimacy. In a democracy, if your opponent is blocked unfairly and unlawfully, your own legitimacy also becomes questionable."

"THE AK PARTY STRENGTHENS THE CHP WITH EVERY MOVE IT MAKES"

Kocabıyık argued that the government's attitude toward opposition leaders is backfiring:

"I do not understand the AK Party. Every move they make strengthens the CHP. Even in a study conducted by AK Party members, the CHP is 4 points ahead. The CHP, which has been fighting and dealing with factions for 70 years, is integrating, strengthening, and growing. What is being done is not in accordance with political reason or the principles of political strategy. Look, Erdoğan was first thrown into prison and then became prime minister. It was clear that Erdoğan would become prime minister while he was in Pınarhisar Prison. The same film is repeating here. This is what I am trying to explain; Erdoğan is moving away from democracy and the rule of law, throwing his opponent into prison just as Putin does. We supported Tayyip Erdoğan in the past because we objected to what was done to him."

"THAT PHOTO IS NORMAL, BUT THE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE IS ABNORMAL"

Finally, Kocabıyık touched upon the fact that the photo Erdoğan took with opposition leaders in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) became a topic of discussion:

"I honestly could not understand why politics and public opinion attached such great meaning to that photo. Yes, after the remark that 'Trump gave legitimacy to Erdoğan,' such a photo could be beneficial to Erdoğan. It is understood that the photo was used for this purpose.

But I do not agree at all with the interpretations that the opposition is moving closer to Erdoğan. In fact, those who were in that photo showed clear reactions to these interpretations.

In this respect, the comments about that photo are completely exaggerated and will have no meaning in politics and no effect in the future. I look at the debate created by this photo from another angle. Mr. Tayyip has plunged politics into such a pit of distrust and polarization that incredible meanings are being attached to a photo that should actually be considered very normal. It is a complete post-truth case.

Why do people not perceive it as a reasonable and good thing for the head of our state and the leaders of other parties to be photographed together in a place like the TBMM? The president needs to sit down and think about this; he is the reason for this perception.

Half of the people in that photo were people whom the president had recently viewed as 'terrorists' or 'traitors.' Wasn't that the case, or am I wrong? If such a debate can be held around a picture, the reason for this is the abnormalities that are also the subject of this interview."