Notable words: Devlet Bey has decided to normalize.

The political agenda continues to discuss the handshake of MHP Leader Bahçeli with DEM Party deputies, despite days passing since the opening reception of the TBMM legislative year. The latest assessment came from CHP Chairman Özgür Özel.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL: DEVLET BEY HAS DECIDED TO NORMALIZE

Evaluating MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's handshake with DEM Party deputies, Özel stated, "They looked, they saw that in the polls, in public opinion research, in society, the politics of CHP, which avoids unnecessary discussions and constantly addresses the citizens' issues, is finding a response. Devlet Bey has decided to normalize. Devlet Bey is extending his hand to DEM. Until yesterday, he was saying 'It should be closed, let the treasury aid be seized, it is a center of terrorism' to the party, to us, to the elected deputies of that party, and now he is saying that he did not say anything for shaking hands with us. Devlet Bey has said, 'The hand I extend is without calculation, without a book.' I tell him that Devlet Bey, you are doing the right thing. Extending a hand is good, shaking hands is good. Talking is better than fighting, dialogue is better than stubbornness, reconciliation is better than sulking. I do not criticize you for what you have done. I do not repeat what you told me yesterday. I say that your hand extension is correct. The hand extended to the representative of the nation is the hand extended to the nation itself. The respect shown to the representative of the nation is the respect shown to those who elected him. To disregard a party is to disregard the voters who voted for it," he said.

BAHÇELİ: DO NOT MISINTERPRET THE HAND I EXTENDED

MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, in his speech at his party's TBMM group meeting, used the following expressions: "It is known and evident where those who detach my extended hand from its context and draw it to other channels want to go. The hand I extend is a hand without calculation. The hand I extend is a sincere and good-willed hand. The hand I extend is a message of 'Let's unite in Turkey, let's come together as the Turkish nation.' Those who have drawn different conclusions from the hand I have extended for days and made fabricated comments have certainly fallen into the claws of error and misunderstanding. As a person of cause and General Chairman who only has Turkey in mind, it will be beneficial for everyone to know that I extend my hand for the homeland, the nation, and the state, while harsh winds blow outside, and I sincerely wish for a peace-loving and tolerant atmosphere to prevail within us. We extend our hand not for a new process, but for brotherhood and shared destiny. Moreover, I am at the same point, I have the same thoughts.