He made headlines with his million-lira watch: 'Political show' debate flares up

AKP Group Deputy Chairman and Manisa MP Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu had previously removed a social media post after a photo taken during a visit to Parliament, in which he was wearing a Rolex watch valued at approximately 562 thousand liras, became a trending topic. As Yenişehirlioğlu's name is once again being discussed by the public following this incident, his statements regarding the demands for raises in Parliament have ignited a new debate.

'SHOW' POLEMIC

AKP's Yenişehirlioğlu stated regarding the raise expectations voiced by opposition parties for pensioners, "The economic difficulties experienced by our pensioners are the collective responsibility of this entire Parliament. No one has the right to put on a political show, create polemics, or generate an agenda using insulting language over this issue."

This statement was met with a response from CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır. Başarır said, "No group is putting on a show here," and continued his remarks as follows:

"If he sees this as a show, I have nothing to say to him. For God's sake, are you empathizing? Are you putting yourself in the shoes of an uncle or an aunt who receives a 20 thousand lira pension?"

Following Başarır's words, İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Buğra Kavuncu also took the floor, noting that pensioners are following the proceedings in Parliament with great hope and want their hardships to be made visible.

Kavuncu said, "Today, hundreds of thousands of our pensioners are following Parliament. They are desperate and want their problems to be brought to the agenda. They were also greatly disappointed by the scene they witnessed just now. I am sure, because let me speak on behalf of my own party and my own speech. There is not a single insult. We brought the problems conveyed to us by the pensioners to the agenda."

In the continuation of his speech, Kavuncu issued a clear call to the AK Party: "The honorable Group Deputy Chairman said: 'The hardship experienced by pensioners is the responsibility of the entire parliament.' If you are sincere in this sentence you formed, then here is a very clear and explicit proposal," he said, stating that they want support for the research motion submitted by opposition parties regarding pensioners. He expressed, "Cast a 'Yes' vote as the AK Party group for the research motion submitted by the Republican People's Party and the new path regarding this issue. We will submit one tomorrow as well. Vote 'yes' for us. Let the nation see how sincere you are."

Recent allegations regarding the luxurious lifestyles of some figures within the AK Party have also resonated within the party. As it will be remembered, AK Party İzmir MP Şebnem Bursalı, who shared a photo on Instagram of herself consuming seafood in Monaco during the last holiday break while wearing a 585 thousand lira Rolex watch, had also become the target of public criticism.

Yenişehirlioğlu's latest outburst and the reactions to it have increased curiosity about what path both the AK Party and Parliament will follow regarding pensioners.

News Source: 12punto