President Erdoğan's strong response to criticisms directed at Özlem Çerçioğlu.

14.08.2025 18:18

In a speech at the AK Party's 24th Anniversary Program, President Erdoğan reacted to criticisms directed at Özlem Çerçioğlu, the Mayor of Aydın Metropolitan Municipality, who switched from the CHP to the AK Party. Erdoğan stated, "They are acting as executioners of honor to cover up the foul smells coming from their own homes."

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President and AK Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the 24th Anniversary Program of his party at the AK Party Congress Center.

President Erdoğan, who sent a message of support to Özlem Çerçioğlu, the Mayor of Aydın Metropolitan Municipality who switched from CHP to AK Party, criticized CHP. Erdoğan stated regarding the criticisms, "Since yesterday, I say 'get lost' to those who attack the new members of the AK Party family in an immoral and rude manner. They are acting as executioners of honor to suppress the foul smells coming from their own homes."

Highlights from President Erdoğan's speech are as follows:

"My esteemed nation, valuable members of the AK Party family, my comrades in the cause, respected ladies, I greet you with my heartfelt feelings.

I send my greetings to each of our citizens in our 81 provinces. I greet with love and respect my brothers who share our excitement and joy. I thank each of you individually for filling this hall with enthusiasm and hope, and for dedicating your hearts to this blessed cause.

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The AK Party is 24 years old today. Today, we proudly celebrate the 24th anniversary of our AK Party, which was born again from the bosom of our nation with the will of our esteemed people, leaving its mark on a quarter of a century of Turkey with its cadres and works.

"WE HAVE LEFT 24 YEARS FILLED WITH SUCCESSES BEHIND"

Today, we joyfully commemorate the 24th year of the Anatolian revolution, whose horizon and direction are drawn by the nation. We are one step closer to the 25th year of the AK Party, which is the hand that holds the fallen and the shelter for the forsaken. We share the rightful pride of leaving behind 24 years filled with successes.

May our 24th year be a blessing for Turkish politics, where we bring a brand new breath, and for our brothers in our heartland. I thank my brothers with whom we have a bond of fate and heart. I express my gratitude to each member of the AK Party family who has put their heart, labor, sweat, prayers, and support into this path on behalf of myself and my nation.

I remember all my brothers who have departed from us like a message with mercy. I express my thanks to our nation, which has stood by us in every circumstance for 24 years and has never withheld its prayers from us.

SPECIAL THANKS TO BAHÇELİ

Today, I express my gratitude to all my brothers who have embraced the AK Party cause and supported this cause, especially to Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, who showed great courtesy by sending a special arrangement to our event, as well as to other party leaders.

"THEY ARE SITTING ON FILTH AND THROWING DIRT LEFT AND RIGHT"

We are further growing the AK Party family with new members. I say welcome to all our new friends who have joined us, and we embrace them all with affection. Since yesterday, I say 'get lost' to those who attack the new members of the AK Party family in an immoral and rude manner. They are sitting on filth and throwing dirt left and right. They are acting as executioners of honor to suppress the foul smells coming from their own homes.

We will not yield to those who have no capital other than a broken, heavy, and blushing face. In our culture, harsh words belong to the speaker. Those who think they can belittle others with insults only disgrace themselves. A tongue devoid of manners benefits neither the country, nor the nation, nor the party. It targets not only us but also the individuals in their own party with even uglier expressions.

"THE CHP CHAIRMAN IS BECOMING A SUBJECT OF PSYCHIATRY"

If there is a person controlled by a remote control, it is none other than this individual. The CHP chairman is rapidly becoming a subject of psychiatry rather than politics. We did not bow to those who organize character assassinations with their media henchmen, and we will not bow in the future.

If the gentleman is disturbed, so be it; we will disturb him even more. While he is struggling in the mud he is stuck in, we will focus on our work. We will not be trapped in the dead end that this low-level politics wants to pull us into. The AK Party is stronger today than it was yesterday, and hopefully it will be even stronger tomorrow.

Every individual of my nation has a place under the roof of the AK Party. Everyone who works with a love for the country is our natural member. Our doors are wide open to these brothers.

"THEY TRIED TO INTIMIDATE US WITH CLOSURE CASES"

That day, we embarked on a long and arduous journey to serve the people and the truth. From that day to this, we have never deviated from the path drawn by the nation. Our party has been subjected to traps and schemes. They unleashed all the snakes they nurtured and raised upon us. They tried to intimidate us with closure cases.

They attempted to drag our country into chaos with terrorist incidents and street uprisings. They tried to thwart our march with hashish gangs. With the bloody coup attempt on July 15, they attempted to hand over this country to foreigners.

As we promised that day, nothing has remained the same in this country. 24 years ago, we made a new beginning in Turkey, we opened a brand new path. We did not disappoint the hopes of those who placed their hopes in us; on the contrary, we nurtured those hopes. We stamped our mark on every square meter of our 81 provinces.

The AK Party today works with the most knowledgeable and experienced cadres in terms of doing politics and managing the state. The fact that the AK Party has the largest cadre is due to this trained cadre. You cannot see this in the opposition.

"WE AIM TO ELIMINATE THE THREAT OF TERRORISM"

With our process of a terrorism-free Turkey, we are taking this to a new level.

We aim to eliminate the threat and possibility of terrorism. We want to strengthen our eternal brotherhood. In this process, which we initiated as a state policy as the People's Alliance, significant progress has been made in a short time. Our hope is to maintain this constructive atmosphere.

The People's Alliance has demonstrated its commitment to finding a solution. It is our wish that other parties act with the same goodwill. We do not have to think the same on every issue, but we are obliged to turn the reality of a Turkey without terrorism into a fact. Everyone who contributes to this process will write their name in history. Those who delay the issue with populist attitudes will not be forgiven by this nation or future generations. We do not ignore constructive criticism, but we will not bow to destructive criticism and perception operations.

We are managing a very sensitive process here. We carry the trust of 86 million, and we strive not to tarnish this trust even a little. Our nation is aware of what we are trying to do. The families of martyrs understand why we have taken this risk. Our adversaries are also aware of what a Turkey without terrorism means. Turkey has seized a historic opportunity to solve its chronic problem, and we will not allow it to be wasted. We will manage this process with the care that befits the greatness of our party.

"A NEW BALANCE IS BEING ESTABLISHED IN THE WORLD"

While a new game is being staged in our region, a new balance is being established in the world. The perpetrators in Gaza do not even feel the need to hide their intentions towards our country. We are all witnessing the signs of these anti-Turkey policies. We have more than enough power and determination to break through the siege attempts.

We are thwarting these attempts aimed at weakening our country from within and undermining it from outside. We are determined to establish a stability belt. Now we are preparing to take one more step.

We will gradually implement the reform program aimed at more democracy, more freedom, and a more effective state in the upcoming period. With the Turkey Century reform program, we will progress much faster towards our goals. As it has been for 24 years, our reference today is the nation. We embarked on this path solely to win the hearts of the people.