24.01.2026 22:40
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli spoke for the first time about the moment he shook hands with DEM Party members in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Stating that the handshake was spontaneous, Bahçeli said, "I thought a step needed to be taken on behalf of Turkey, so I went and shook hands with the DEM Party members. There was also a deputy among them who had lost a relative, and I expressed my condolences to him. They were surprised."
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli made his first statement regarding the moment he shook hands with DEM Party members in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
"THE HANDSHAKE WAS INSTANTANEOUS"
Speaking to tv100, Bahçeli stated the following; "Many comments were made about my handshake with the DEM Party; that handshake was instantaneous! After our President's speech at the opening of the Parliament and his wishes and hopes regarding the Century of Turkey, I looked around the General Assembly hall. Our parliamentary friends and AK Party members were applauding, but the opposition was watching. At that moment, I thought a step needed to be taken on behalf of Turkey, and I went and shook hands with the DEM Party members. There was also a deputy among them who had lost a relative, and I expressed my condolences to him. They were surprised."
"AHMET TÜRK SHOULD BE REINSTATED"
Bahçeli, who stated that Ahmet Türk, who was removed from the position of Mayor of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, should be reinstated, said: "When I talk to Ahmet Türk, I call him 'Ağa'. During our conversation, I asked him, 'There is a very nice series that describes Mardin, are you watching it?' and added; they are promoting Mardin and its values beautifully, that's one. The actors are quite talented, successful, that's two. But one thing is missing; I said, 'There is no Metropolitan Mayor,' and he was surprised. We need to solve these issues. We need to bring the whole nation together as a family, we need to unite. He should also be reinstated."
AHMET ÖZER'S PRISON SENTENCE: THIS DECISION IS NOT CORRECT
Bahçeli, regarding the 6 years and 3 months prison sentence given to Ahmet Özer, who was removed from the position of Mayor of Esenyurt, on the charge of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization' in the "city consensus" case, stated, "This decision has not been correct. It is not right to talk about a Turkey without terrorism."
DEVELOPMENTS IN SYRIA
The MHP leader also made the following evaluations regarding the developments in Syria: "The developments in Syria are positive in terms of Turkey's policies and expectations, and the territorial integrity of Syria. What has happened in Syria so far is positive for Turkey. I am a farmer's child. If you leave a thistle in a small area at the edge of a field; you will find that after a while, those thistles have covered the entire field. The SDG/YPG must be completely uprooted from Syria!"