Far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has demanded the cessation of treasury funds for Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party after they revealed extravagant government spending during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent visit to the United States.
The DEM Party’s disclosure has led to significant political backlash, with Bahçeli, an ally of Erdoğan, accusing the party of exploiting state resources and undermining the government’s authority.
The controversy follows a critical speech on Monday by DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, who accused the government of mismanaging national resources while neglecting the economic welfare of ordinary citizens, particularly retirees. Bakırhan’s comments came during a meeting with retirees in İzmir, where he criticised the government’s economic policies as favouring the elite at the expense of the broader population.
In retaliation, Bahçeli accused the DEM Party of exploiting state resources and undermining the government’s authority. He specifically targeted DEM party ally İstanbul MP Ahmet Şık from Worker’s Party of Turkey (TİP) with derogatory remarks, escalating the conflict further.
Bahçeli’s targeting of Ahmet Şık came shortly after a violent incident in the Turkish Parliament, where Şık was physically attacked by AKP MP Alpay Özalan during a heated session discussing TİP MP Can Atalay’s imprisonment. The altercation was sparked by Şık’s scathing speech accusing the ruling party of being “the biggest terrorist organisation” in Turkey.
The DEM Party responded by condemning Bahçeli’s rhetoric as representative of a “coup mentality,” threatening democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. They highlighted his suggestions to close the Constitutional Court as indicative of his disregard for democratic institutions.
