Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which is an ally of the Turkish government, expressed his approval for the violent assault that occurred in the Parliament on August 17.
On August 16, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers, who are led by Alpay Özalan, rushed to the rostrum to attack Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) lawmaker Ahmet Şık during an extraordinary session to discuss the status of jailed Can Atalay in the wake of the Constitutional Court’s ruling that found the decision to strip his lawmaker status unlawful.
Bahçeli stated in a social media post that the AKP lawmakers “accomplished the necessary actions without the MHP.”
“They maintained an admirable stance against thuggery, lawlessness, and injustice.” he continued.
In protest, the MHP legislators refrained from participating in the session.
He claimed that the political provocation mechanism, which sought to remove Can Atalay, a member of TİP, from prison and bring him to the Parliament although he had a finalized conviction against him, caused a mess with its provocation and conspiracy during Şık’s speech in the Parliament.
Additionally, he asserted that the Constitutional Court’s decisions were “unconstitutional.”
Despite numerous Constitutional Court rulings, Atalay was deprived of his lawmaker status after being convicted in the Gezi Park case, despite being elected as a TİP lawmaker in the 2023 election.
Two opposition lawmakers, Gülüstan Koçyiğit and Okan Konuralp, sustained injuries during the violent attack of the ruling lawmakers. Meanwhile, bloodstains were observed on the Parliament. Koçyiğit’s eyebrow was injured during the altercation by the lawmakers of the governing party.
Ahmet Selim Köroğlu, the Chief Advisor to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also expressed his approval of the violent assault in a social media post, similar to Bahçeli.
“This is the Parliament, not a circus; if you insult, you will receive retribution.” He lauded Özalan, stating that Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Can Atalay are terrorists.
