13.02.2026 10:40
The oath crisis in the Parliament gained a new dimension with the courtesy traffic in the opposition's corridors. It was revealed that CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır shook hands with Akın Gürlek, whom they accused of "violating the Constitution," and made two completely contradictory statements regarding this situation.
Before the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Minister Akın Gürlek and Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, a notable interaction occurred. It was revealed that CHP Group Deputy Chairpersons Ali Mahir Başarır and Murat Emir shook hands with the two ministers in a room behind the General Assembly Presidency Board.
HE WENT TO AKIN GÜRLEK AND SHOOK HIS HAND
According to the information obtained; Ali Mahir Başarır entered the room first. Başarır approached Minister Akın Gürlek, extended his hand, and Gürlek stood up to greet him. Then Murat Emir entered the room and shook hands one by one with the AK Party and MHP officials and deputies present. Emir also shook hands with the ministers. After this interaction, the General Assembly reconvened.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TURNED INTO A BATTLEFIELD
While Başarır was queuing to shake hands in the corridor, the General Assembly turned into a battlefield. Protests that began when Akın Gürlek, appointed as the Minister of Justice, was invited to take the oath at the podium quickly escalated into a fight. During the protest of CHP deputies in front of the podium, a Constitution booklet was thrown at Gürlek.
MAHMUT TANAL INJURED HIS NOSE
During the fistfight attack, Mahmut Tanal was injured in the nose, while Hatay Deputy Servet Mullaoğlu, who tried to protect Tanal, was also attacked with fists. Akın Gürlek was only able to take the oath with the accompaniment of a "human circle" formed by AK Party deputies around the podium.
CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS FROM BAŞARIR
Ali Mahir Başarır claimed in a statement to Sözcü TV that they did not congratulate the new ministers. Başarır said, "We were there as group deputy chairpersons in the room of the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. In fact, İyi Party Group Deputy Chairperson Turan Çömez was also with us. At that time, the two new ministers, Akın Gürlek and Mustafa Çiftçi, were brought into the room. We left the room. There was no situation of congratulations."
"EVERYONE SHOOK HANDS"
However, Başarır admitted during a CNN Türk broadcast that he shook hands with the ministers. Başarır stated, "Everyone stood up. They shook hands with each other. In fact, I told the Minister, 'It will be a difficult day for you.' We shook hands with everyone. When they invited us to the room where we were sitting and having a meeting, everyone was there. The ministers were there. When all the group deputy chairpersons shook hands, the minister also stood up. After that, I said, 'It will be a difficult day for you.'"