11.06.2026 22:20
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who said of himself that "he has the potential to be neither the guard of Anıtkabir nor the leader of Turkish youth," spoke about the moments when Özgür Özel, who firmly shook his hand and had a sincere chat at the Koç Group's 100th anniversary event, commented on those moments. Özel said, "When Mr. Devlet raised his head and greeted me, I sat next to him and asked about his health. He sometimes treats us unfairly, but no one should expect me to go and be rude to get approval from anyone. If Mr. Tayyip had been there, I would have gone to him as well."
In the live broadcast of Halk TV, Özgür Özel, evaluating the agenda, explained the background of the sincere conversation he had with MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli at Koç Holding's 100th anniversary reception, which drew criticism. Özel said, 'No one should expect us to go and be rude just to get a pat on the back; we must not cease to be human.'
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel answered journalists' questions on a live program on Halk TV. Özel gave very clear responses on the live broadcast to the criticism from the party base and the public regarding him standing next to and shaking hands with MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who had previously used very harsh language towards him, at the Koç Group's 100th anniversary event a few days earlier.
"DEVLET BEY RAISED HIS HEAD AND GREETED ME"
Reminding that he has a long-standing acquaintance with Devlet Bahçeli, who said about him, 'He has neither the potential to be the guardian of Anıtkabir nor the leader of Turkish youth,' Özgür Özel recounted those moments at the reception with these words:
'If a person were to give up being themselves, only then might they never be criticized. I met Devlet Bahçeli when I was the General Secretary of the Turkish Pharmacists' Association. The Ministry of Health was under their party at that time; we first met in 2007. I have been encountering him as a member of parliament, deputy chairman, and chairman since 2011. I have heard very bad words and very harsh criticism from Devlet Bey. But during holidays and festivities, it is normal for politicians to call each other or check on each other in sickness.
We were at the Koç Group's 100th anniversary reception; at first, we were far apart. Later, as I was passing in front of Devlet Bey, he raised his head and greeted me. Upon that, I went over and sat next to him; I said, 'How are you, how is your health?' He asked me too. Then we got up and left; it lasted all of 16 seconds.'
"NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT US TO GO AND BE RUDE JUST TO GET A PAT ON THE BACK"
Arguing that the tense atmosphere in politics should not end human relations, the CHP leader defended his stance by giving an example from the local political culture in Manisa:
'What was I supposed to do to Devlet Bey? He has criticisms, sometimes he does us an injustice, but he is 80 years old, older than us. We have encountered each other many times in Parliament. No one should expect me to go there and be rude just to get a pat on the back from someone. I am not that kind of person. I wasn't like that in Manisa either. In Manisa, we attend both funerals and weddings together with AK Party and MHP members. We must not cease to be human; these things make us human.'
"IF TAYYIP BEY HAD BEEN THERE, I WOULD HAVE GONE AND ASKED HOW HE WAS TOO"
Özgür Özel stated that if President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had also been there, he would have shown the same courtesy, and concluded his speech as follows:
'If we hadn't seen so much, if the atmosphere hadn't been so tense, if Tayyip Bey had also been there, I would have gone to him too and asked how he was. He is older than me, it is my place to do so. He has more experience. This is all a 16-second incident.'