Erdoğan to main opposition leader: ‘Watch your step or we’ll make you’

Turkish President Erdoğan has threatened main opposition CHP leader Özel as the “Commander-in-Chief” and said, “Watch your step–if you don’t, we know how to make you.” Erdoğan was commenting on Özel’s remarks regarding the lieutenants who were recently dismissed from the military after being targeted by Erdoğan.

Wednesday February 26 2025 10:47 pm

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 26 once again targeted main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel by saying “Watch your step–if you don’t, we know how to make you.”

Speaking during his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) meeting in the capital Ankara, Erdoğan addressed Özel as the “Commander-in-Chief.”

“Are you not ashamed of what you have brought (Atatürk’s) party to? Instead of slandering the AKP, Mr. Özel should answer the allegations of fraud in the municipalities,” he said.

“(At) yesterday's meeting of his party, (he made) vulgar and offensive statements about the command of our army. As the commander-in-chief, I am addressing you. Watch your step–if you don’t, we know how to make you. You don't have the authority and the right to criticize the command of my army, you will know your place. If you are a (member) of this nation, it is unbecoming of you to criticize them,” he continued.

Erdoğan also said he and the commanders will file a lawsuit for Özel’s remarks.

Özel on Feb. 25 commented on the five newly graduated lieutenants who were dismissed from the military for drawing their swords and chanting for the republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, during their oath ceremony.

Özel said the head of the disciplinary board, Lieutenant General Tevfik Algan, objected to the dismissals. “Then, those who were disturbed by Algan's attitude wanted to send him into exile. Algan gave them the necessary answer by resigning.”

“I know who put pressure on Algan during that process, who struggled for the dismissal of the lieutenants during that process… and I am only saying this to them by naming them: Commander of the Land Forces Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and Commander of the Naval Forces Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, I know what you are doing and I am telling you what I (once) told Hulusi Akar. You are the men who have received the curse of your friends, not their blessings,” Özel added.

In response to Erdoğan, CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır said in a social media statement, "One day you are the AKP Chair, one day you are the President, one day you are the Commander-in-Chief. You cannot change (outfits) as it suits you and maintain your outdated power through politics of intimidation! You cannot threaten our Chair Özgür Özel over our national army! We are not like appointed ministers trembling in front of you. We are here, the soldiers of the Republic; we will neither bow down nor back down!"

During their oath ceremony on Aug. 30, five lieutenants drew their swords and chanted “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk).”

President Erdoğan criticized and targeted them after the incident, and said, “Exploiters, to whom are you drawing these swords? It is impossible for them to exist in our army. We are taking steps to (dismiss) them quickly.”

The National Defense Ministry also dismissed three of their supervisors, who backed the lieutenants, from the military, saying their actions were “against discipline.”