CHP Leader Slams Government as ‘Junta’; FM Responds with Sharp Rebuke
özel fidan
At the 21st Extraordinary Congress of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), newly elected party leader Özgür Özel made headlines by declaring that Turkey is governed by a “junta that fears elections, rivals, and the people.” His remarks prompted a fierce response from Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, escalating tensions between the government and the main opposition.
Özel: “Time to Dismantle the Junta Through Democratic Means”
In his victory speech at the CHP congress, Özel stated:
“Turkey is governed by a junta afraid of elections, of its opponents, and of the people. The time has come to dismantle this junta through democratic methods.”
The statement was seen as a direct challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration, especially following recent events such as the March 19 arrests of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and dozens of municipal officials.
Hakan Fidan Fires Back: “Know Your Place”
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issued a strongly worded rebuttal:
“Know your place! President Erdoğan has served this nation for years with the people’s support and has fought every form of tutelage. We’ve never taken orders from anyone but the nation.”
Fidan went on to accuse Özel of:
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Undermining democratic legitimacy
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Appealing to foreign powers for political support
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Romanticizing corruption cases as acts of heroism
“We reject this mindset that blends personal ambition with conspiracy theories under the guise of politics. We will continue to serve our nation with determination,” Fidan concluded.
CHP’s Response: “The First to Arrive at the Scene is Usually Guilty”
CHP MP Ali Mahir Başarır hit back at Fidan’s comments, saying:
“The first to arrive at a crime scene is usually the guilty one. Instead of snapping back, Hakan Fidan should explain his role in the March 19 operation. Was it you conducting diplomacy on behalf of the junta?”
This remark revived criticism over the so-called 'March 19 coup', which the opposition describes as a coordinated political operation to discredit and remove prominent rivals ahead of the upcoming election.