02.10.2025 16:24
At the opening reception of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, President Erdoğan met with opposition leaders at the same table. The most talked-about moment of the reception in the Assembly was when Erdoğan, Davutoğlu, and Babacan were seated next to each other. Erdoğan stated, "The atmosphere in the Assembly is promising."
The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, hosted a reception at the Assembly for the opening of the 4th Legislative Year of the 28th Term. The moments when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with party leaders made a significant impact on the reception.
ERDOĞAN MET WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS
President Erdoğan held a special meeting in the Marble Hall with the Speaker of the Assembly Kurtulmuş, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, Deputy Speakers of the Grand National Assembly Pervin Buldan and Celal Adan, AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler, Co-Chairs of the DEM Party Tuncer Bakırhan and Tülay Hatimoğulları, DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan, Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu, Saadet Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu's representative Mesut Doğan Arıkan, New Welfare Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan, HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici, former Speakers of the Grand National Assembly Bülent Arınç and İsmail Kahraman, and some members of parliament.
DAVUTOĞLU AND ERDOĞAN SIDE BY SIDE AFTER YEARS
A notable detail from the meeting was that Erdoğan was seated to the right of DEM Party Co-Chair Bakırhan and to the left of Davutoğlu and Babacan. Particularly, the long and sincere conversation between Erdoğan and Davutoğlu stirred the political backstage.
ERDOĞAN: THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE ASSEMBLY IS PROMISING
Speaking at the Expanded Provincial Chairmen's Meeting of his party at the AK Party Congress Center, Erdoğan made the following assessment regarding the meeting:
"And my dear brothers and sisters, as you know, yesterday the 4th Legislative Year of our Grand National Assembly of Turkey began. As we do every year, we fulfilled a proud tradition by delivering the opening speech of the new legislative year for the presidency. The atmosphere in the Assembly has further increased our hopes. I would like to thank all the members of parliament and esteemed chairpersons who once again demonstrated what the culture of democracy means. I particularly express that we find yesterday's tableau very valuable."
REACTION TO CHP
In his speech, Erdoğan also criticized the opposition, particularly the CHP's absence from the opening session:
"Of course, the fact that the Main Opposition Party made up a ridiculous excuse to break away from the Assembly on its very first day has actually revealed their mentality. As a President who received the votes of approximately 28 million citizens, the nonsense they put forward to escape from the Assembly's opening has no value in our eyes."