18.02.2026 15:07
It was claimed that President Erdoğan imposed a speaking ban on AK Party Tekirdağ Deputy Mestan Özcan, whose words "I can't make ends meet with 500 thousand lira," became a subject of criticism, and Mersin Deputy Hasan Ufuk Çakır, whose remarks about retirees sparked controversy.
After the changes in the media strategy of the AK Party, President Erdoğan intervened for two members of parliament who became the target of criticism with their statements.
HE TOOK ACTION FOR 2 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
According to İsmail Saymaz from Halk TV; President Erdoğan imposed a speaking ban on his two deputies who sparked controversy with some statements they made in front of the camera.
NAME FROM CHP TO AK PARTY IS ON THE LIST
The first of these names was Mersin Deputy Hasan Ufak Çakır, who switched from CHP to AK Party. In a program in Mersin, Çakır stated regarding retirees, "What is 20 thousand lira? Retirement salary. They keep stepping on it. Brother, you are not living in Switzerland. On that side, there is Greece. Here is Armenia. Down there is Syria. The occupying forces are ready at the top. When the English come from this side, will they not look at my wife and will not care about your honor? Why don't you think about this? Let's give a respectful applause to these two statesmen who are trying to end terrorism in Turkey!"
"I CANNOT LIVE ON 500 THOUSAND LIRA"
It was claimed that a large segment was disturbed by Çakır's words and that Erdoğan intervened as a result, while the second name to be imposed a speaking ban was AK Party Tekirdağ Deputy Mestan Özcan.
Özcan stated in a speech he made in Çorlu that the total of the deputy salary and retirement pension, which is approximately 500 thousand TL, is insufficient for his livelihood. Özcan had become the target of criticism with the statements, "Let me give you my income and payments, you handle this job."