04.12.2025 08:15
The leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahçeli, reacted to the Pope's visit to İznik. Bahçeli stated, "We object to covert propaganda and hidden messages. We cannot remain silent and be spectators to the eagerness to revive a council that was convened 1700 years ago in İznik. There is no point in selling snails in a Muslim neighborhood."
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, speaking to Türkgün Newspaper, made evaluations regarding the agenda.
Stating that the CHP is standing in the wrong place in history, MHP Leader Bahçeli said, "The call for cleansing from the corruption against the administration is correct. The CHP management's blaming everyone is not a principled stance. It is essential to illuminate the most severe corruption of the century and to ensure justice."
REPORT WRITING IS NEXT
Bahçeli, noting that the listening and consultation phase of the 'National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission' established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) has passed, stated that the next step is the writing of the report concerning the transition process. Bahçeli emphasized that with the roadmap to be determined, 'Turkey without Terror' must find its average and existence starting from 2026.
"THE CALL FOR CLEANSING IS CORRECT"
Emphasizing that the CHP is standing in the wrong place in history, Bahçeli said, "The call for cleansing from the corruption against the administration is correct. They have devastated the party of the esteemed Atatürk. The CHP management's blaming everyone is not a correct and principled stance. It is essential to illuminate the most severe corruption of the century and to ensure justice."
"GENOCIDERS MUST ACCOUNT"
Bahçeli, expressing that there is no other way than a two-state solution in Gaza, stated, "Terrorist actions and aggressions must cease immediately. A sovereign, independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, having the 1967 borders, must be recognized, and the genociders must be held accountable."
"WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE REVIVAL OF THE COUNCIL FROM İZNİK"
Bahçeli stated that the show-based religious and historical rituals during the Pope's visit to Turkey disturbed the Turkish nation, saying, "We have objections to covert propaganda and hidden messages. We cannot remain silent and be spectators to the eagerness to revive a council that convened 1700 years ago from İznik. There is no point in selling snails in a Muslim neighborhood."
QUESTION: Are you satisfied with the developments regarding the goal of a Terror-Free Turkey?
Devlet Bahçeli continued his words by saying, "The issue is more about the continuity of reasonable and result-oriented works than my personal satisfaction."
"The National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission established in the TBMM has held its 18th meeting. The listening and consultation phase has passed. Three valuable members of the Commission have met with the founding leader of the PKK in Imralı. Now, the writing of the Commission report concerning the transition process has taken precedence. Therefore, I believe that a common will will manifest in the TBMM for the completion of legal regulations. I hope that the same dedication shown so far will continue for the swift execution of the political, democratic, and legal aspects of the process. The national will is determined to close the systematic terrorism period based on weapons and violence; it is more constructive and supportive than ever before.
There is a broad and realistic environment for consensus. Almost everyone with an opinion and thought within the framework of the "Terror-Free Turkey" goal has been listened to. The democratic mechanism has worked fully and completely. With the roadmap to be determined, Turkey without Terror must find its average and existence starting from 2026. There is no time left. We have entered the final stretch. Our nation will embrace peace with excitement. Social peace will prevail. Therefore, I am at ease. I appreciate the responsibility and ethics of every party that has contributed members to the Commission."
QUESTION: The waters in the CHP are not calming down. The pot is constantly boiling. They held their third congress in the last year and their fourth in the last two years. The backroom discussions are ongoing, and factions are not stopping. What is your perspective on the CHP that has fallen into court?
"Unfortunately, the CHP is standing in the wrong place in history. The CHP's falling into the courts is primarily a legal issue. Nevertheless, I hope that this party will regain its internal balance and order. However, things have gone awry in the CHP. The call for cleansing from the corruption against the administration is a correct call.
Those who sent off Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu with tears and cheers yesterday are now showing the door. It appears that the CHP is floundering in an area of three S's: Söğütözü, Saraçhane, and Silivri. Bribery, corruption, and embezzlement cases have devastated the party of the esteemed Atatürk. The CHP management's blaming everyone is not a correct and principled stance. If they want to see something different in the mirror, it is more reasonable to change the image in front of the mirror rather than the mirror itself.
The instability of the CHP and its deep break from its historical line will negatively affect Turkish politics and democracy. The internal turmoil in this party is their own issue. It is not our place to comment on it, and it is not our job. However, there is a horrifying bribery and corruption accusation that the CHP must account for and confront. The content of the prepared indictment is indeed very serious. Facing the truth requires self-confidence, and accepting the realities requires political ethics and resilience. It is essential to illuminate the most severe corruption of the century and to ensure justice. We have complete confidence in the Turkish judiciary.
It is not right for Mr. Özgür Özel to deal with our prosecutors and judges, politicizing and slandering every serious allegation. The situation the CHP is in is regrettable and heartbreaking for Turkish politics, this party's tradition, and its future.
"I CONVEYED MY WISHES BY CALLING HIM"
QUESTION: Where do you think the CHP made a mistake?
"The primary addressee of this question is the current management of the CHP, which must answer it. I congratulate Mr. Özgür Özel, who was elected as the Chairman at the 4th Congress held in the last two years, and I wish him success in his future political struggle with the hope that he will act with reason and caution. I conveyed this wish to him personally by calling him.
They must respect the binding nature and decision of the law. At their 39th Congress, they say, 'We are the guardians of the Republic, the soldiers of Atatürk.' One must ask, what did they leave behind from Atatürk? When did they ever respect the people, the sole power of the Republic? They were afraid to even go to Imralı; they fled; they expressed their objections not to the essence but to the procedure with timid and bland words.
They have been dodging the solution to Turkey's most important problem. I hope they will gain the insight to see the truth and not step outside the ring.
"TERRORIST ACTIONS AND AGGRESSION MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY"
QUESTION: Israeli attacks in Gaza are ongoing.
A ceasefire notwithstanding, genocide continues.
"The number of member countries in the United Nations is 193. Of these, 159 have recognized Palestine. This is an important development. The genocidal Israel has been isolated. Many countries have recognized Palestine in this year's General Assembly. The bloodshed must stop, and it should be universally accepted that Gaza belongs to the Gazans. There is no other way than a two-state solution. A sovereign, independent Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, based on the 1967 borders, should be recognized and granted full membership in the United Nations. Additionally, the perpetrators of genocide must be held accountable.
Defending the rights and laws of Gazan babies, children, women, the elderly, and defenseless people is a humanitarian duty, a mobilization of conscience and compassion. Turkey's thesis and statements, which have given voice to the cries of the oppressed Gazans and continuously shouted the horrific face of the humanitarian disaster to the world, have finally gained broad acceptance. Israel's continuation of attacks against the ceasefire decision dated October 10, 2025, its aggression towards Lebanon, and its intelligence, political, and operational interventions to stir up Syria are barbarities that do not fit into any book or legal principle. The terrorist actions and aggressions disguised as state architecture must cease immediately.
"THERE IS NO POINT IN SELLING SNAILS IN A MUSLIM NEIGHBORHOOD"
QUESTION: The Pope visited Turkey from November 27 to 30. Many things were said in favor of and against this visit. A statement came from the Nationalist Movement Party. May I know your thoughts on this?
"First of all, let me express that the statement made by our Deputy Chairman, Mr. Edip Semih Yalçın, who shares views on behalf of the Nationalist Movement Party, is our official statement, and I fully support it. Pope Leo XIII is the President of the Vatican State and the spiritual leader of the Catholic world. His visit to our country took place at the invitation of our President. We have nothing to say about this visit.
In the discussions, the Turkey-Vatican dialogues and current regional and global developments, especially regarding Palestine, were addressed. It is quite meaningful that the Pope stated at the Presidential Complex that "Turkey's historical and geographical position plays a central role in establishing peace." Our point of criticism is not the contacts made by the Pope as the President of the Vatican State, but rather his actions as the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, which disturb our nation with religious and historical rituals based on show.
We fundamentally and procedurally object to the covert propaganda staged from the Iznik Neofitos Basilica to the ceremonies held at the Volkswagen Arena in Maçka, Istanbul, and the content of the messages processed in a closed circuit.
We cannot remain silent and passive to the desire to revive a council held 1700 years ago in Iznik, our first capital in these lands, and the insidious replacement of Iznik with Nicaea.
The use of Iznik by those who sow seeds of discord among the Islamic world, who pit Muslims against Muslims, and who aim to unite Christianity and spread this religion, especially centered in Asia, is a disregard for our faith and belief honor.
We are a great state, a revered and esteemed nation. We do not get stuck in simple fears. We do not view events with complexes. However, we cannot ignore the scenarios written over centuries and the games played. On the 103rd anniversary of the liberation of Iznik on November 28, 1922, and the 930th anniversary of the beginning of the Crusades on November 27, 1095, reopening the dark pages of a 1700-year-old account, confusing minds, fishing in murky waters, and casting dark clouds over Islam, the last religion in the sight of God, will have neither an end nor a result. We respect everyone's freedom of religion and conscience. It is clear that we do not look down on anyone because of their religion and belief. However, there is no point in selling snails in a Muslim neighborhood.
After witnessing the events, I called Mr. Mehmet Bozdağ, the screenwriter and producer of the series "Kuruluş Orhan," which is broadcast on ATV, and told him that this series has an educational, warning, and awakening function in terms of Turkish history and the geography of Anatolia.
I wished for the proliferation of such series and for them to be watched with curiosity and interest by our nation. If we forget our history, our future is on the brink of a cliff.
If we turn a blind eye to the destruction of our national and spiritual values, which make us who we are, which bind us to our roots, identity, and faith, it is inevitable that our rights to life and existence in this geography will be threatened.
We cannot tolerate the emergence and establishment of different sovereign areas within the borders of the Republic of Turkey, regardless of the name, purpose, and title.
The Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 is a crossroads in the statehood of Christianity. The second council held 1700 years later is more of an opportunism to produce and maintain a newly emerging dominance than a symbolic religious ceremony.
Is it not an overreach and irresponsible outburst for the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara to say that the Heybeliada Seminary will open in 2026? Will this ambassador make this decision, or will the Republic of Turkey?
The oppressive, aggressive, and coercive initiatives, proposals, and evaluations clearly disregard our independence and future honor, showing no limits in recklessness and arrogance. Our issue is not the Pope's visit or diplomatic initiatives. Our issue is the activities to revive the memory of the Council and the dark memories that have been left in the dark. "