MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli received Habertürk Ankara Representative Nasuhi Güngör in the office room at the party headquarters. Bahçeli made important statements to Habertürk regarding Terror-Free Türkiye.
-We have reached an important stage in the process of a terrorism-free Türkiye. Have you encountered any significant problems or troubles while getting to this point? How would you summarize your basic approach?
"We did not encounter any serious problems or difficulties from the beginning of the process. Essentially, our approach to the issue can be expressed as follows. Turkey has made significant progress in the fight against terrorism. It has achieved success. However, there were some provocations and tensions brought about by separatist activities throughout the country. We were thinking and working on what we could do. We were closely following the public discussions."
-Then the handshake on October 1st took place. As the MHP leader, you did this by going to the DEM Party ranks. What did you think?
-As you know, Mr. President made a speech at the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on October 1, 2024. He focused on some internal and external issues. In the last part of his speech, he pointed out the cooperation between the government and the opposition under the roof of the Parliament. After the speech was over, AK Party members of parliament stood up for the President. We, as the People's Alliance side, took the same action. Then I stepped towards the DEM side. They had a condolence, and while they were paying it off, there was a handshake. They were also surprised. Of course, it attracted a lot of public attention.”
-Was it a planned step? Because your calls in the group conversation dated October 22 came.
-In one sense, we have fulfilled the requirements of the President's call to the parliament. On the other hand, we fulfilled a humanitarian duty. Yes, it has been talked about and discussed a lot since that day. Then, on the date you specified, we demanded in the DEM Party Group that the PKK dissolve itself and call for disarmament. Afterwards, the process accelerated. Delegations went to İmralı. There were various contacts. Some people came to us. These conversations that started in those days brought the process to a productive point.
-Your proposal for a commission under the umbrella of the Parliament was also one of the important stages of the process. Did the commission work turn out as you envisioned?
-The commission established in the Parliament set out, first of all, with the participation and representation of the overwhelming majority. Almost all commission members voted yes on the most critical decisions. In the commission's final report, this figure was 47. 21 meetings and extremely important discussions were held under the leadership of our Parliament Speaker.
-In a sense, you are saying that this broad consensus played a role in the adoption of the Framework Law. The law was accepted with 467 yes votes. Did you expect such a number?
-As you stated, the consensus reached in the commission and the exchange of ideas openly followed by the public revealed a broad consensus on the enactment of the law. Frankly, I wasn't expecting the number 467 either. But this level of acceptance led to the expansion of social consensus and the strengthening of solidarity. This is something that makes the process extraordinarily powerful.
-Is this agreement also present on the field? Do you think it reflects to the same extent?
-Let me give you an example. We have organizations in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions. Our friends here are always in contact with the public. However, after these events, tribal leaders, opinion leaders and different segments of the society visited our party in droves. It caused a tremendous bonding. It still continues.
-You had some criticisms and reactions to two public opinion surveys during the week. One is about Amed Spor. The other is a research that contains some claims about religious life in Turkey.
-First of all, as we have brought to the agenda before, public opinion polls must be handled with a solid legal regulation. Society should be enlightened with correct information. It is not right for anyone to do research and make announcements. Are these public opinion surveys or an effort to create public opinion and perception? These are unacceptable.
As for Amed. Football in Turkey is an event that takes place not only with the fight on the field, but also with the enthusiasm in the stadium and in the stands. The dynamism leaders and people called cheerleaders direct the activity there. My concern is about my sensitivity to their intentional use.
The public will remember. I left my club membership due to my discomfort with the slogans chanted during a Beşiktaş match. Because no one can predict where the mobility in the stands may go if it becomes uncontrolled.
-You also had a criticism about discussing identity through sports.
-We stated this. It is a mistake to say that politics, sports and identity are intertwined and to equate sports with identity based on an unclear research. Sport is an activity that should embrace everyone, regardless of their political views, ethnicity, sect or disposition. Efforts to integrate identity will take Turkey to a different place. With mutual reactions, some issues may gain dangerous dimensions again.
-The other research contained some claims about religious life in Turkey.
-Who is doing this survey and how healthy is it? Dividing society and misinforming people on such sensitive issues will have extremely dire consequences. We also expressed this issue in our statement. Presenting our nation as a rootless, personalityless, and irreligious society under the name of Islamic research is a great diversion and a fifth column activity. The Turkish nation is faithful, moral, faithful, committed and loyal to its religion, religious values, traditional values and cultural relics.
-While terrorism-free Türkiye continues the process, Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a joint agreement. How do you evaluate this agreement, referred to as the Mecca Agreement or alliance?
-An extremely healthy and important agreement. Its tendency to expand also has extremely strategic value. There are 57 Muslim countries. They have enormous populations and underground resources. However, they cannot utilize the potential they have. They cannot produce a leading country against the West. If these studies are carried out under Turkey's leadership, this will move us to the center and make us much more prestigious in the world. The Islamic world also sees great benefits from this. The steps taken are important, this alliance with other countries besides Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will become much stronger.
-The presidential government system is about to complete its second term. With the 2018 and 2023 elections. What are your thoughts on the continuation of the system?
-Turkey needs political stability above all else. This is the system that permanently provides this need. It is important to review some points regarding the implementation of the system in the intervening two periods. First of all, a constitution is needed for the healthy functioning of the system.
-You have recently brought up some amendments to the election law and political parties law. What are your suggestions on this matter? What do you foresee changing?
-This is what we say. In both areas you mentioned, changes that will both strengthen the system and eliminate disruptions should be negotiated. Not only politics, but also non-governmental organizations, our intellectuals and academics should come together and address this. These changes, which strengthen the system and eliminate the deficiencies, should of course be handled in accordance with the work on the new constitution.
