Osman Gökçek claimed 'he is taking advantage of the absence of AK Party members breaking their fast': AKP's Bozdağ denied it

The CHP's group proposal regarding the privatization of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant was discussed in the TBMM General Assembly.

According to Gazete Duvar, while the proceedings were ongoing in the session chaired by Deputy Speaker of the TBMM Bekir Bozdağ, AKP MP Osman Gökçek claimed on his social media account that CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır was 'trying to shut down the Parliament by calling for a quorum check, taking advantage of the absence of AK Party deputies who were at iftar.'

Gökçek posted: "Our dear citizens, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır, taking advantage of our AK Party deputy breaking his fast, called for a quorum check in Parliament at iftar time. The CHP members, who profiled those going to Friday prayers at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), are now trying to shut down the Parliament by taking advantage of those breaking their fast. Do you have no respect for people's faith? Do you have no shame at all?"

REACTION TO 'PROVOCATION' FROM ALİ MAHİR BAŞARIR

Taking the floor during the sessions that resumed after iftar, CHP's Ali Mahir Başarır reacted to Gökçek's post and said the following:

"An AKP deputy has tweeted... Mr. Speaker, you gave a break close to iftar time; for about an hour, our deputies and staff broke their fast, then you came back and opened the Parliament, is that correct?

(To Bozdağ) Please, you speak. Now, a deputy whose name I am even ashamed to mention is posting this tweet. We may be political rivals, we may criticize each other harshly, but this is a provocation. This is a crime. Why would I call for a quorum check at iftar time to prevent our deputies from breaking their fast...

This deputy and his family are now creating environmental pollution in Turkey and unfortunately in the Parliament. You are a witness to this; it is primarily your duty to protect the dignity of this Parliament. Please, was it like this or not? I would like to hear it from you."

DENIAL FROM BEKİR BOZDAĞ TO GÖKÇEK

Upon this, Bekir Bozdağ stated the following:

"Dear deputies, as you know, during today's proceedings, we voted on the CHP group's proposal and took a 55-minute break. Then, Article 37 of the Rules of Procedure was discussed, and subsequently, a quorum check was requested. That is, it had probably been over an hour, I estimate, when the CHP group requested the quorum check. It was likely more than an hour after iftar time."

News Source: 12punto