08.05.2026 18:10
On the night of the cable car disaster in Turkey, the emergence of boat footage of CHP officials led to statements that caused a crisis not only in public opinion but also within the party itself.
While it is openly discussed in backstage circles that Ozgur Ozel and Veli Agbaba reacted harshly to Basarir, the question "how were the images leaked?" has become the main issue triggering a crisis of confidence within CHP. The details and images from the night of the disaster have made the rift within the CHP troika more visible and deeper.
Basarir's claim about the images that "the video was tampered with" did not find resonance with the public. Assessments that the images progressed in an uninterrupted and natural flow weakened this defense. Thus, the debate shifted from the question "is it a montage?" to "what actually happened that night?"
THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE DISASTER AND THE ENTERTAINMENT HOURS GROWS
According to AFAD records, the cable car accident in Antalya on April 12, 2024, occurred at 17:28, and rescue efforts lasted approximately 22.5 hours. While it is stated that crisis management was conducted during these critical hours, the timing of the boat images created a serious perception of contradiction in the public eye. The relaxed atmosphere in the images was interpreted as a picture inconsistent with the severity of the disaster.
While the accident took place in Antalya, the fact that the location where the images were captured was the Gocek Merdivenli Koyu line brought along a discussion about distance. The journey time of at least 4 hours, along with preparation and sailing processes, points to a timeframe that could extend up to 5-6 hours. This picture strengthened allegations that certain individuals left the region during the crisis.
THE "WE WERE WITH FAMILY" DEFENSE SPARKS NEW DEBATE
Basarir's words "We were with our family" opened the door to a new debate rather than a defense. The emerging picture was interpreted as an indication that a pre-planned organization was not canceled. While a major disaster was unfolding, the continuation of the program initiated a "priority questioning" in the public.
The distance between the accident site and the boat became one of the most critical topics of the debate. Allegations concentrated on the idea that some individuals left the crisis zone early to join the program. This situation brought the question "Was the priority rescue efforts or the planned event?" to the agenda.
IN THE ORGANIZATION, "WAS THE LEAK FROM INSIDE?"
According to discussions in Ankara backstage, it is stated that CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel and Veli Agbaba openly reacted to Basarir due to the images. The assessment that the images harmed the party and serious mistakes were made in crisis management stands out.
Allegations that the boat organization was arranged by businessman Hazim Giray turned attention to this individual. Through Giray, who is known to be close to Basarir, the question "Were the images served from inside?" is being voiced more loudly in backstage circles.
BASARIR'S "DEEP STATE" MOVE ESCALATES THE DEBATE
Basarir's statement that the images were leaked by a "deep structure within the state" moved the debate to a different dimension. However, this move was interpreted by some circles as an "evasion of responsibility." The focus of the debate still remains on the content of the images.
While Basarir's harsh outbursts were assessed as a "state of panic" in political backstage, especially his words "Are you listening to us?" led to discussions about the source and content of the images. The emerging picture brought the question "Is there a crisis of confidence and management failure within CHP?" to the fore.