26.02.2025 17:06
President Erdoğan made statements at the Expanded Provincial Chairmen's Meeting of his party at the AK Party Congress Center. In response to Özgür Özel's remarks directed at the military commanders, Erdoğan said, "As the Commander-in-Chief, I am addressing you; if you don't watch your step, we know how to make you pay for it. You do not have the authority or the right to insult the command hierarchy of my army; you need to know your limits."
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Republican People's Party Chairman Özgür Özel criticized the force commanders regarding the expulsion decision about the lieutenants during yesterday's group meeting. Özel told the Commander of the Land Forces Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and the Commander of the Naval Forces Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, "I am telling you what I told Hulusi Akar. You are people who have received not the good prayers of your friends, but their curses." In response to Özel's remarks, President Erdoğan answered during his party's Expanded Provincial Chairmen's Meeting.
"I CALL YOU AS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF"
Erdoğan, who said, "I am calling you as the Commander-in-Chief," stated, "The turnips spilled out of the bag in recent weeks show how the main opposition is struggling in a filth. From their congresses to their education, from their concerts to their tenders, there is either irregularity, corruption, or cannibalism, as expressed by former Çankaya mayors.
Do you never have a proper job? Mr. Özel should answer this instead of turning the nation's podium into a podium for polemics. Don't you feel any shame about the situation you have brought the party founded by Gazi Mustafa Kemal into?
Mr. Özel talks a lot but speaks empty words. The debt of diet leaves Mr. Özel in a difficult situation. The irresponsible, low-level, and aggressive expressions he used regarding the command echelon of my army are the latest example. Mr. Özel, I am calling you as the Commander-in-Chief. You should watch your steps; if you don't, we know how to bring it. You do not have the authority or right to insult the command echelon of my army. You will know your limits.
COMMANDERS WILL SUE ÖZEL
My Minister of National Defense and the commanders will sue Özel. The earlier the CHP chairman comes to his senses, the better it will be. Otherwise, the bells that will take Mr. Kemal away will start ringing for him. He cannot be expected to find solutions for the nation from a structure that constantly produces. They have no benefit to anyone other than themselves. This scene reminds us once again of what a burden we are. We are fighting to turn the ideal of a great and strong Turkey into reality. We are the hope of this nation. We are the guarantee of its independence.
We are not going to sit in these seats we have come to with the nation's approval forever. When the time comes, we will return to the earth.
CONGRESS EVALUATION
There was a change of about 60% in district chairmanships and about 70% in provincial chairmanships. 34 of our brothers in the Central Executive Committee handed over their duties. We completed it with our heads held high in a relay race atmosphere. The AK Party has clearly demonstrated its difference in its congresses, just as it does in every matter. Here, I would like to thank all my brothers who played a role in the successful implementation of our congress process.
During our grand congress in Ankara, there were 60,000 people outside the hall.
THANKS TO BAHÇELİ
The meaningful flower arrangement containing important symbols that Bahçeli sent to our congress has also pleased us and made us happy. I thank him.
"IT ONLY BECOMES A SUPPLEMENT"
There is no purging in the AK Party; it only becomes a supplement. There will be renewal, rejuvenation, and blood change in us. The AK Party is the party of all 85 million.
While our rivals cannot lift their heads from the chair struggle, we are presenting new reform packages to our nation.
WHAT DID ÖZEL SAY?
Republican People's Party Chairman Özgür Özel said the following during yesterday's group meeting:
"They expelled 5 lieutenants from the Turkish Armed Forces, who swore, 'We are soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.' You know that. The head of the Disciplinary Board there was the Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Command, Lieutenant General Tevfik Algan. He objected to this expulsion, he protested. Then those who were disturbed by Algan's attitude wanted to send him into exile. Algan gave them the necessary response by submitting his resignation letter. I am only saying this from here: I know who pressured Algan during that process, who struggled for the expulsion of the lieutenants during that process, and who worked to blow this process up in the media, and I am saying this by naming them: I know what you did, Commander of the Land Forces Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and Commander of the Naval Forces Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, and I am telling you what I told Hulusi Akar. You are people who have received not the good prayers of your friends, but their curses.
I know who the Commander of the Naval Forces wanted to replace, who dug the grave for whom, and how he incited the expulsion of the lieutenants with a psychological war that could be called unconventional warfare, and how the Commander of the Land Forces applied mobbing. I hear it from my comrades. I am noting it down to ask for an account when the time comes."
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