30.10.2026 02:27
At the October 29 Republic Day ceremony held in Cumhuriyet Square in İzmir, New Party İzmir MPs Deniz Yücel, Murat Bakan, and Ednan Arslan did not shake hands with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, who had joined the AK Party. Seeing Tugay, who was greeting protocol members, approaching them, the New Party MPs sat down in their seats without greeting him.
On the occasion of the 103rd anniversary of the Republic, tense moments were experienced in the protocol at the ceremony held in İzmir. New Party MPs were cold toward Cemil Tugay, who left CHP and joined the AK Party.
THEY DID NOT SHAKE TUGAY’S HAND
At the beginning of the ceremony, a noteworthy event occurred in the protocol section. While İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay was greeting protocol members one by one, he came before New Party İzmir MPs Deniz Yücel, Murat Bakan and Ednan Arslan. The 3 MPs did not stand up when Tugay arrived and remained seated without shaking Tugay’s hand.
WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE PROTOCOL?
İzmir Governor Süleyman Elban, Aegean Army and Garrison Commander Lieutenant General Zorlu Topaloğlu, and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay attended the ceremony held at Cumhuriyet Square.
AK Party İzmir MPs Ceyda Bölünmez Çankırı and Şebnem Bursalı, New Party İzmir MPs Deniz Yücel, Murat Bakan and Ednan Arslan, İYİ Party İzmir MP Hüsmen Kırkpınar, MHP İzmir MP Tamer Osmanağaoğlu and Democrat Party İzmir MP Haydar Altıntaş were also present at the ceremony. AK Party İzmir Provincial Chairman Bilal Saygılı, İYİ Party İzmir Provincial Chairman Ülkü Doğan, MHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Veysel Şahin, Konak Mayor Nilüfer Çınarlı Mutlu, İzmir Bar Association President Serhat Sökmen and citizens also attended the ceremony.
Governor Elban, Lieutenant General Topaloğlu and Mayor Tugay celebrated the holiday of the people and those attending the ceremony. After a moment of silence and the National Anthem, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s message was read.
GOVERNOR ELBAN: OUR NATION WAS REBORN FROM ITS ASHES
Speaking at the ceremony, İzmir Governor Süleyman Elban stated that the Republic is the most suitable form of government for the nation and said the following:
“103 years ago today, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his friends declared the Republic. The regime most suited to our nation’s character, glory and honor is the republican regime. With this regime, our nation was reborn from its ashes in a very short time. Today, thank God, we have reached the level of contemporary civilizations. God willing, as the revered Atatürk pointed out, we will also rise above the level of contemporary civilizations in the shortest time. We will continue to exist always in this world and on these lands.
I remember with mercy and gratitude the beautiful Republic, this homeland that was left to us as a homeland, this beautiful state left to us as a state, above all Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades in arms, all our martyrs and all our veterans who have passed into eternity, and all our heroic ancestors who strove for this country and had a share in the founding of this state.
I wish our living veterans good health and long lives. God willing, our Republic and our state will endure until the end of time. Our nation will also be happy with the Republic and this beautiful homeland until the end of time. Happy Republic Day.”
CELEBRATIONS ENDED WITH A PARADE
After the speech, Elif Ceren, a student at Karşıyaka Cihat Kora Anatolian High School, and Bedirhan Furkan Subaşı, a student at Karşıyaka Şehit Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, read poems. Republic Day celebrations ended with folk dance performances and a parade.