01.04.2026 15:14
President Erdoğan made harsh statements about the CHP and its General Chairman Özgür Özel at the AK Party group meeting. Erdoğan said, "In the dictionary of political terms in Turkey, the CHP is written opposite the terms coup plotter and junta member. Coups are the character, spirit, and identity of the CHP. Supporting coups and coup plotters is the national sport of the CHP." Furthermore, the coup memory that Erdoğan recounted later in his speech also resonated widely at the group meeting.
President Erdoğan made evaluations regarding the agenda at the AK Party group meeting. Targeting the CHP and its Chairman Özgür Özel with harsh words, President Erdoğan used striking expressions.
ERDOĞAN: YOU CANNOT DECEIVE THIS NATION Highlights from President Erdoğan's statements are as follows; "The Turkish nation is a nation of knowledge, foresight, and insight. You cannot deceive the eyes of this nation. You cannot fool this nation. You cannot pass off political trickery, political acrobatics, and empty talk as politics to this nation. This noble nation knows very well how to distinguish the straight from the crooked, the sincere from the fraud, the liar from the honest, and the moral from the immoral. Do not have any doubt about it. Our nation clearly sees the difference in level, style, quality, stance, and vision between the AK Party and the main opposition party CHP, and evaluates it in the best way.
"WE HAVE NEVER BEEN A TOOL IN THIS GAME, AND WE WILL NOT BE" My citizens are certainly following the aggressive rhetoric of the main opposition party, which has not even taken a break during Ramadan, and has recently escalated it into something quite ugly, and they are giving it the deserved note. I have not had and do not have the slightest doubt about this. Let them not forget that by turning every opportunity they seize into a symphony of insults directed at us and our party, they only belittle themselves, not us or our party. We have never been a tool in this game, and we will not be. Especially in this sensitive period we are going through, we will not turn a blind eye to the politics poisoned by anger, hatred, conflict, and fighting language. However, we will also know very well that knowing how to set limits when necessary is far superior to dressing in a patchwork coat. Now, dear brothers, it is not the right or the limit of anyone, including the person at the head of the main opposition, to insult the president of this country, the ruling party of this country in such a low manner.
"SUPPORTING THE COUP AND COUP PLOTTING IS CHP'S NATIONAL SPORT" In all provocations targeting Turkey's democracy, there is the fingerprint of the CHP. It is the CHP that has been escalating tensions in society and politics before the April 27 declaration. It is the CHP that patted the backs of those attempting a street coup during the Gezi events, and it is the CHP that supported the coup plotters during the December 17-25 coup attempt. It is again the CHP that tried to exonerate the coup plotters by accusing of a controlled coup during the July 15 betrayal. No one should take offense; in Turkey's political terminology, the term coup plotter and junta member is written next to CHP. Coup plotting is the character, spirit, and identity of the CHP. Supporting the coup and coup plotters is CHP's national sport. The CHP is the embodiment of coup plotting in this country. Just as a tin cannot be turned into gold by being covered in yellow, the CHP's coup plotting tradition does not change; if it does, there will be nothing left of the CHP.
"AS MUCH AS YOU DEAL WITH THOSE WHO REPORT CORRUPTION..." My very dear brothers, there is no political rival in front of us that is suitable for our caliber or quality. Unfortunately, there is a character in the chair of the main opposition party who does not blush from his foul-mouthed insults. I am referring this lack of decency to my noble nation. You have not dealt with those who take bribes and commit corruption as much as you deal with those who report corruption and say they gave bribes, with the characterless individuals who extort tradesmen and turn municipalities into a source of income.
A COUP MEMORY THAT STAMPED THE MEETING After his harsh words towards the CHP, President Erdoğan shared a memory; "One day, the late Gendarmerie Captain Ahmet Er's path crosses with the Davut Paşa barracks. The footsteps of the coup are being heard. His intention is to visit his friend Major Orhan Erkanlı. Later, Erkanlı, who will serve as a member of parliament from the CHP, is the commander of the tank battalion at Davut Paşa. Ahmet Er enters the room of Erkanlı, who is in conversation with two civilians. When he enters the room, the two foreigners inside experience a moment of surprise. Major Erkanlı immediately intervenes in the situation. He turns to them and says, "My captain is not a foreigner, continue."
"THEY ARE PREPARING GROUND FOR A COUP" Upon this, the civilian person continues to speak, or rather, continues to brief Erkanlı. "Sir, we have clashed two groups with each other in Saraçhane. The fight is continuing with all its violence. Do you have any other orders?" he adds. Erkanlı, who says, "Thank you, continue like this," sends them off after a while. Ahmet Er cannot help but ask in astonishment, "Major, who are these men?" Erkanlı's answer is quite significant: "These are members of the People's Party." Ahmet Er reacts to this situation with the words, "They are making the young sons of the country kill each other. This is a very delicate matter." Erkanlı responds, "Do not look at it that way; they are preparing the ground for a coup." Yes, this is CHP, this is the CHP mentality, this is CHP's view of democracy, CHP's view of national will, and this is how they view our youth."