02.06.2026 22:20
The Afyonkarahisar Municipal Council's June meeting turned into a battleground during a briefing on members who switched from CHP to AK Party. A dispute over speaking rights between CHP and AK Party members quickly escalated into a brawl with heavy insults exchanged. In the tense session marked by phrases like "Don't be rude, artist" and "Will you come from the mountain and chase away the one in the vineyard?" other council members struggled to separate the parties who nearly came to physical blows.
The ordinary June meeting of the Afyonkarahisar Municipal Council turned into a powder keg following resignations that shook political circles. While official information was being provided to the council regarding members who resigned from the CHP and joined the AK Party, tensions between parties suddenly peaked. The conflict, starting with a dispute over the right to speak, escalated into a major verbal fight with mutual harsh accusations and tense dialogues among council members. In those moments when party members struggled to intervene, harsh expressions flew under the council roof.
THE RIGHT TO SPEAK DISPUTE SPARKED THE CONFLICT
During the opening of the meeting, as the item informing about individuals leaving the CHP and joining the AK Party was being read, CHP member Kemal Demirkırkan requested to speak. When Deputy Council President Gökhan Günal proposed postponing this speech to the "non-agenda" section, Demirkırkan objected, saying, "The second agenda item is directly about those who resigned. I must speak. This is a rare event in Afyonkarahisar's history." At this point, AK Party member Mahmut Emin Birliktir's outburst, "Information has already been given, it's over," became the first move that ignited the tension in the hall.
"ARTIST" AND "LINEAGE" WORDS FLEW IN THE AIR
Reacting sharply to Birliktir's intervention, CHP member Mevlüt Varol shouted from his seat, "You are interfering." As the exchanges escalated, AK Party member Birliktir retorted to Varol, "Don't be rude, artist." Enraged by these words, Varol turned to Council President Günal and said, "You can't intervene. He tells me 'sit where you are.' Is he threatening me? His lineage..."
"WILL YOU COME FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND CHASE OUT THE ONE IN THE VINEYARD?"
The fight intensified with rising voices in the council hall. After AK Party member Mahmut Emin Birliktir's remark to Varol, "Will you come from the mountain and chase out the one in the vineyard? Sit down," CHP member Varol stood up and shouted, "Where did I come from the mountain, huh?" and moved toward Birliktir.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PREVENTED THE SCRAMBLE
During the session that nearly turned physical, council members from both parties intervened to calm the sides. However, Birliktir, who did not calm down, was heard continuing to shout, "I know your past too... Artist... Enough..." Following these party transitions under the administration of Mayor Burcu Köksal, in the first meeting of the council, CHP members were reported to have complained with allegations of "swearing," and after the tense moments, Kemal Demirkırkan's speech was postponed until the end of the meeting.