Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), denies the speculation of a division or disagreement with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has denied allegations of a dispute with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when a previously suspended clock reappeared in his office during a meeting with Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç.
The graft investigations conducted from December 17-25, 2013, which implicated the former Prime Minister Erdoğan and his close circle, are represented by the clock’s halt at 17:25.
Following the investigations, the government categorically rejected them as a premeditated scheme orchestrated by the Gülen movement, leading to a sweeping crackdown on individuals affiliated with the movement.
Until 2016, the “17:25” clock, which was initially apparent in Bahçeli’s office during an interview with journalist Can Dündar in 2015, was a prominent symbol. The timepiece was conspicuously absent from photographs of Bahçeli’s office after 2016.
According to a report by the Serbestiyet news website, a photograph shot on June 24, 2024, did not include the clock. Nevertheless, it reemerged prominently on July 2, 2024. This signifies that it has regained significance in Bahçeli’s political communication.
Bahçeli, who has been a longtime supporter of Erdoğan, claimed that the clock functions as a reminder of the purported Gülenist conspiracy. He stated that the clock’s reappearance during his meeting with Koç was not a casual coincidence, but rather a deliberate move to serve as a reminder to the public of the events that occurred before the 2016 coup attempt.
In a social media statement, Bahçeli emphasized that the clock’s existence was a symbol of the continuous fight against those who, in his words, attempted to destabilize Turkey rather than an indication of a split within the ruling party.
“The December 17-25 process was the incubation period for the July 15 FETÖ betrayal,” he wrote, employing the government-assigned, derogatory acronym for the Gülen movement. “This process cannot be forgotten or disregarded.”
The Gülen movement is an international civic endeavour rooted in the spiritual and humanistic principles of Islam. Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric who is currently domiciled in the United States, inspires individuals to initiate, fund, and conduct a variety of service projects through his humanitarian discourse.
The Gülen movement was promptly blamed by Turkish President Erdoğan and his AKP government for the 2016 coup attempt, which resulted in the deaths of 251 individuals and the injuries of a thousand others. Both Gülen and the movement categorically deny any involvement in the putsch or any other form of terrorist activity.
Since the corruption investigations of December 17-25, 2013, Erdoğan has been actively targeting supporters of the Gülen movement. Erdoğan initiated a campaign against the members of the movement, which included numerous prosecutors, judges, and police officials participating in the inquiry. He labelled the movement as a terrorist group and accused them of plotting an insurrection and conspiracy against his administration. Authorities apprehended a multitude of people.
Bahçeli’s statements are made in a time of heightened political tension in Turkey when the option of holding early elections is being contemplated as a response to economic difficulties and growing public discontent. Ümit Özdağ, the head of the extremist Victory Party and a former member of the MHP, proposed that Bahçeli’s hidden allusion to the clock might indicate discontent with the present power-sharing agreement with the ruling AKP. He additionally observed that “every aspect of Bahçeli’s life is deliberate and not a result of chance.”
In contrast, Bahçeli categorically rejected these interpretations and reaffirmed his allegiance to the “People’s Alliance,” the electoral alliance that the MHP and Erdogan’s AKP formed. In addition, he warned against the attempts made by opposition groups to instigate conflict inside the alliance, confidently stating that “those who try to create divisions within the People’s Alliance will ultimately be unsuccessful.”
At first, Bahçeli’s MHP expressed disapproval of the AKP about the corruption claims. However, it has now become one of Erdoğan’s most unwavering supporters, especially following the unsuccessful 2016 revolt. The two parties have cultivated a strong collaborative alliance in addressing national security concerns, while simultaneously repressing the Gülen movement and Kurds.
The AKP’s underwhelming performance in the March 31 municipal elections has intensified speculation around the potential dissolution of the partnership between the party and the far-right MHP. Nevertheless, Bahçeli and Erdoğan have both rejected these rumours, emphasizing their dedication to preserving their alliance.
