MHP leader Bahçeli asks journo to quit profession over question on possible rift with Erdoğan

Duvar English

Turkish government-ally, far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli on Nov. 12 scolded journalist Hilal Köylü over her question on a possible rift with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

While Bahçeli was speaking with the journalists after his party’s parliamentary group meeting, journalist Hilal Köylü asked Bahçeli, “Do you and President Erdoğan have a difference of opinion on the peace process or not?”

In response, Bahçeli said, “Members of the press, stop provoking Turkey and fueling discrimination with false information. If can’t, quit your profession.”

There are rumours that Bahçeli made his move regarding jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan without informing Erdoğan and that the latter is hesitant towards such a move.

Bahçeli recently called on Öcalan to announce the dissolution of the PKK at the Parliament. Some even claimed that Erdoğan and his government appointed trustee mayors to three municipalities run by pro-Kurdish DEM Party in response to Bahçeli’s call. 

Bahçeli’s response to journalist Köylü drew ire as an indication of impatience of politicians towards the press.

“Scolding journalists under the roof of the Parliament, the symbol of the democratic parliamentary system, is a sign that Bahçeli has forgotten the qualities that democracy requires. The duty of journalists is to be curious and ask questions in the public interest, and the duty of politicians is to give meaningful answers to these questions, whether they like it or not. A journalist is not a politician's rival or subordinate with whom they have a hierarchical relationship,” Journalists’ Union of Turkey said. 

Meanwhile, Köylü said after the incident that she was “just doing my duty.”

She told Halk TV that even some MHP politicians congratulated her for the question.