02.06.2026 10:50
Yıldıray Çiçek, advisor to MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, reacted very harshly to Ekrem İmamoğlu's remarks targeting MHP. Calling İmamoğlu a "virus," Çiçek also pointed to İmamoğlu as responsible for the process CHP is currently experiencing. Reacting to İmamoğlu's assessments that MHP is charting a roadmap for CHP, Çiçek stated, "This is exactly the audacity and shamelessness of a man who has ravaged CHP for his own desires and ambitions."
Devlet Bahçeli, the Chairman of the MHP, and his advisor Yıldıray Çiçek harshly reacted to the statements of detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu targeting the MHP. In his article, Çiçek used the term "virus" for İmamoğlu and held him responsible for the ongoing process within the CHP.
HARSH REACTION FROM MHP TO İMAMOĞLU
Yıldıray Çiçek, advisor to MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli and editor-in-chief of Türkgün Newspaper, harshly criticized the expressions used by Ekrem İmamoğlu in an interview about the MHP.
In his column in Türkgün newspaper, Çiçek reacted to İmamoğlu's evaluations regarding the CHP and MHP, using striking statements.
"LOOK AT THE ARROGANCE HE DISPLAYS?"
In his article, Yıldıray Çiçek criticized the answer given to the question directed at İmamoğlu: "The MHP Chairman is giving a roadmap to the CHP until the congress date. How do you respond to this?" and used the following expressions:
"In the interview, they asked him: 'The MHP Chairman is giving a roadmap to the CHP until the congress date. How do you respond to this?' Look at the arrogance he displays?
'Only our party members determine the roadmap of the Republican People's Party. Neither the power centers nor those who act as custodians of the power and hinder our congress have any value in what they say about our party.'
This is exactly the cheekiness and impudence of a man who has ruined the CHP for his own desires and ambitions, tainted the congress of Turkey's most established party, and inflicted corruption and bribery on its municipalities. As someone who has come to the CHP after wandering through forty doors, he impertinently targets those who wish to contribute to social stability with common sense."
WHAT DID İMAMOĞLU SAY?
Ekrem İmamoğlu, answering questions from Murat Sabuncu of T24, gave the following response to the question: "The MHP Chairman is giving a roadmap to the CHP until the congress date. How do you respond to this?"
"Only our party members determine the roadmap of the Republican People's Party. Neither the power centers nor those who act as custodians of the power and hinder our congress have any value in what they say about our party.
The law already mandates the congress. The rule of law in the Republic of Turkey has been destroyed. Those who have the courage protect the state's rule of law, do not mince their words, and do not back down. Today, there is only one obstacle standing before Turkey's future. If they are disturbed by this obstacle, let them come forward and put their hands under the stone as we have done for years. If they lack the courage and power, let them get out of the nation's agenda.
Our nation and our party will already do what is necessary. In an environment where an administration is on the verge of ending democracy in Turkey, these mixed, unclear, and utterly useless words have no meaning."
TENSION RISES ON THE CHP-MHP LINE
The mutual statements made during the ongoing congress debates in the CHP have brought the political tension between the two parties back to the agenda. Yıldıray Çiçek's harsh words rank among the most striking responses from the MHP front to İmamoğlu's statements.