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Kılıçdaroğlu's 'FETÖ agents' remarks spark debate; Gürsel Tekin's 'get well soon' message resurfaces

Kılıçdaroğlu's 'FETÖ agents' remarks spark debate; Gürsel Tekin's 'get well soon' message resurfaces

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu apologized for not identifying "FETÖ agents" infiltrating the party sooner.
  • Özgür Özel responded, stating Kılıçdaroğlu was reading a prepared text containing accusations previously made by TGRT against him.
  • Gürsel Tekin's past "get well soon" message to Fethullah Gülen resurfaced amid the controversy.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, recently appointed CHP General Chairman following an appellate court decision, has ignited controversy with remarks made during a "People's Bayramlaşma" event. He issued an apology to the public for failing to identify "FETÖ terrorist organization agents" who he claimed had "insidiously infiltrated" the party, stating, "I apologize to you for not identifying the FETÖ terrorist organization agents who insidiously infiltrated us in time for the salvation of this nation, for justice, and for a bright future."

I apologize to you for not identifying the FETÖ terrorist organization agents who insidiously infiltrated us in time for the salvation of this nation, for justice, and for a bright future.

— Kemal KılıçdaroğluApologizing for not detecting infiltrators within the party.

Kılıçdaroğlu further questioned the integrity of the party's origins, asking, "Are bribes given in boxes in the father's homeland? Are conspiracies set up with the instructions of FETÖ accounts in the father's homeland?" He asserted that "everything is halal and clean" within the party's foundation, emphasizing its legitimacy as the "father's homeland."

In response, the current elected CHP General Chairman, Özgür Özel, suggested that Kılıçdaroğlu was reciting a prepared statement. Özel claimed the text contained accusations previously leveled against Kılıçdaroğlu by TGRT, a media outlet, which had accused him of working with "FETÖ remnants." Özel characterized the current situation as the text remaining unchanged while Kılıçdaroğlu now adopts TGRT's past slanders, lamenting the harsh criticisms and accusations directed at party members.

Kemal Bey is using prepared text for these words. These were accusations TGRT made against Kemal Bey in the past. They accused Kemal Bey of working with 'FETÖ remnants,' naming some of his advisors. Now the text hasn't changed, but Kemal Bey is now adopting TGRT's slanders himself.

— Özgür ÖzelResponding to Kılıçdaroğlu's statements and suggesting they were pre-written.

Adding to the discourse, Gürsel Tekin's past message of "get well soon" to Fethullah Gülen, the leader of the FETÖ organization, has resurfaced. Tekin, who was appointed CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman by court order, defended his past action, stating that many politicians, around 600, had sent similar messages. He acknowledged that minor flaws might exist amidst significant efforts.

Not only I but 600 politicians also wished him well. Let this be our fault too; there can be minor faults amidst so much effort.

— Gürsel TekinDefending his past 'get well soon' message to Fethullah Gülen.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.