İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu announced that the congratulatory message he sent to the President and political party leaders for the August 30 Victory Day was not accepted by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli.
Participating in the Çalar Saat program hosted by İlker Karagöz on NOW TV, Dervişoğlu stated that the message in question was returned by Bahçeli via courier. Dervişoğlu linked this stance by Bahçeli to his own criticisms regarding the policy he says Bahçeli is pursuing concerning Abdullah Öcalan.
Addressing assessments that he did not greet Bahçeli and that they did not look at each other during the August 30 ceremonies, Dervişoğlu said, "How was I supposed to behave in the presence of Atatürk toward someone who returned a message celebrating Turkey's day of victory?"
Emphasizing that the fundamental values of the Republic must be protected, Dervişoğlu said, "We will not let them, that is, the enemies of the Republic, devour the Republic." The İYİ Party leader argued that they would stand against those who characterize the Republic as a "100-year parenthesis" and a "100-year regime of oppression."
News Source: 12punto
