Devlet Bahçeli rift in CHP: Reactions pour in over that photo

CHP Women's Branch Chair and Osmaniye MP Asu Kaya chatted with MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli in the corridors of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on August 29. Kaya told Bahçeli, “Parliament is beautiful with you. For us doctors, if a patient is eating and drinking well, it means they are healthy. Seeing you eating cookies, I wanted to express my satisfaction,” and had a photo taken.

DEBATE BEGINS WITHIN CHP

The incident caused controversy within the CHP. CHP Eskişehir MP İbrahim Arslan criticized party members for appearing in close proximity to AKP and MHP representatives in a statement on his social media account. Arslan emphasized that such images harm the party's struggle and undermine the public's faith.

UNACCEPTABLE

Arslan stated the following in his announcement:

“While our party is under heavy siege all across Turkey; while investigations and summaries of proceedings are being prepared against our chairman, while our presidential candidate and many of our comrades are being held in prison unjustly, and while our organization is being tried to be intimidated with the harshest pressures; images of ‘closeness’ given with representatives of the ruling power and its partners, known in the public eye for their insults and attacks, are absolutely unacceptable.”

LEGITIMIZING THE POWER OF THE RULING PARTY

Criticizing party members for posing in friendly photos with representatives of the ruling party, Arslan noted:

“In recent days, the friendly frames that some of our comrades have given side-by-side with ruling party provincial presidencies or representatives who have been hurling the harshest words at our party for years, harm the spirit of our struggle and undermine the faith of millions. Such images result in nothing other than legitimizing the power of the ruling party and sending the wrong message to the public.”

Arslan continued his call to CHP members as follows:

“While insults, investigations, and summaries of proceedings against our chairman, our organization, and our candidates continue, our comrades displaying friendly relations with the ruling power and its partners harms the faith, hope, and struggle of millions. What falls to us today is not to provide images that will grant legitimacy to the ruling power; it is to protect the will of the people, explain the obstacles to the public, grow solidarity, and show resistance. I invite all our comrades to act with a sense of historical responsibility.”

News Source: 12punto