30.10.2026 17:32
İYİ Party Samsun MP Erhan Usta, who reacted to Müsavat Dervişoğlu and MHP General Chair Devlet Bahçeli walking arm in arm at Anıtkabir with the words "I do not accept this," made a new statement. Regarding İYİ Party leader Dervişoğlu's words "It was a humane act," Usta said, "If you want to walk with someone at Anıtkabir, you walk; if you don't want to, you don't. Taking that arm is not a physical necessity but a political choice. I object to this choice."
At the October 29 ceremony at Anıtkabir, İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli walking arm in arm caused a debate within the party. İYİ Party Samsun MP Erhan Usta, who reacted to the footage by saying "I do not accept this," responded with a new statement to Dervişoğlu's description of the situation as "a humane act."
ERHAN USTA IS NOT BACKING DOWN
Stating that standing next to someone throughout the ceremony and walking down the stairs together requires a special effort, Usta said that whom to walk with at Anıtkabir is a personal choice. In a statement on his social media account, Usta said: "My words need no interpretation. Until today, as the İYİ Party, we have fought tooth and nail in both social and economic matters and, most recently, during the Framework Law process, on every platform and at every level. This struggle of ours will continue from now on as well.
"BEING CONSTANTLY BY SOMEONE'S SIDE REQUIRES A VERY SPECIAL EFFORT"
I say this as someone who has attended the ceremony at Anıtkabir many times. There, if you want to see someone, you see them; if you do not want to see them, you do not. If you want to walk with someone, you walk; if you do not want to, you do not. Being constantly by someone's side throughout the ceremony requires a very special effort. Especially while going down the stairs, there is no order at all.
"TAKING THAT ARM IS NOT A PHYSICAL NECESSITY BUT A POLITICAL CHOICE"
Taking that arm is not a physical necessity but a political choice. I object to this choice. Let it be very well known that we do not take our duty from calculations of personal advantage behind closed doors; we take our duty from the Great Atatürk's Address to the Youth. As required by our first duty, we will preserve and defend Turkish independence and the Turkish Republic forever.
The responsibility of politics applies to everyone. The best way is to assess the appropriateness of our actions by the reaction our nation gives. I am in my party. I am not going anywhere. I have put in effort. I have taken risks. I will continue on the path I believe to be right from now on as well. Without deviating even a millimeter from the promise we made to our nation, we will continue to work with determination on the path we believe in."
Meanwhile, Dervişoğlu, who made a statement after the criticism of the footage, opposed the interpretation of what happened as a political rapprochement. Stating that his contact with Bahçeli at Anıtkabir was a humane act, Dervişoğlu emphasized that he keeps his political struggle and personal relations separate from each other.
DERVİŞOĞLU: I CONDUCT MY POLITICAL STRUGGLE ON THE BASIS OF MY IDEALS AND BELIEFS
Dervişoğlu stated that the contacts between political party leaders at the ceremony should be assessed within the framework of civilized relations and said:
"Words befitting the meaning and significance of the day were spoken. Our views on political developments are known to all. If you ask me, these are not matters to be discussed off the cuff. What we did there is nothing but a relationship maintained with the chairmen of political parties within civilized bounds, as on every Republic Day."
Drawing attention to polarization in politics, Dervişoğlu continued his words as follows:
"First of all, I want you to know this: this issue is being discussed both on social media and in public opinion. Let it be known that I conduct my political struggle on the basis of my ideals and beliefs, but I conduct my human relations on the basis of the family upbringing I received."
"THESE DEBATES ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE THE PERSON WHOSE ARM I TOOK IS BAHÇELİ"
Arguing that the footage from Anıtkabir was turned into an environment of lynching against him on social media, Dervişoğlu said that the real reason for the criticism was Bahçeli.
Dervişoğlu used the following expressions:
"The issue is not my taking someone's arm; while coming down from Anıtkabir, I have taken many people's arms until now. These debates are happening because the person whose arm I took is Devlet Bahçeli. I find it strange that my humane act is kept open to questioning in order to give bodily form to the grudge and hatred toward him."
Emphasizing that he would not back down from his political struggle, the İYİ Party leader continued as follows:
"I am sorry on behalf of our nation that we are in such an environment. I will not give up my struggle either, but while carrying on a struggle, I will never, ever compromise on my character. Those who know me know me for this trait. The public is also a witness to how we have carried on our struggle."