Parties split on Erdoğan at parliament opening; Bahçeli slams YENİ Party walkout

AK Party and MHP lawmakers gave Erdoğan a standing ovation at parliament’s opening, while CHP and YENİ Party members stayed seated; Bahçeli criticized YENİ Party’s walkout.

Turkish parties reacted differently when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan entered the General Assembly for the opening of the parliament’s new legislative year. AK Party and MHP lawmakers stood and applauded, while CHP and YENİ Party members remained seated. CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who watched from the gallery as he is not a lawmaker, also stayed seated. DEM Party lawmakers stood but did not applaud.

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli and lawmakers applaud Erdoğan standing

YENİ Party leader Özgür Özel and his lawmakers walked out as Erdoğan began speaking after the national anthem. Özel said they would not listen to Erdoğan, whom he holds responsible for judicial intervention against his party and the arrest of its presidential candidate.

YENİ Party leader Özgür Özel (file)

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli told reporters at a reception afterward: “It was not right for them to leave while the President was in the hall. A new party should be one that brings innovations to politics.” After his speech, Erdoğan greeted opposition benches, including DEM Party lawmakers, and Bahçeli presented him with a white rose.