Turkish far-right leader Bahçeli threatens Ankara Mayor

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli has threatened Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş after blaming him for an attack on an event last week. "Mr. Mansur should be careful. The breath of the Grey Wolves is now on his back," he said.

Tuesday November 30 2021 12:20 pm

Duvar English

Turkish far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has threatened Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş after blaming him for an attack on an event last week.

Speaking to reporters after a parliamentary group meeting on Nov. 30, Bahçeli said, "Mr. Mansur should be careful."

"The breath of the Grey Wolves is now on his back," Bahçeli said, noting that he will follow the case every day.

His remarks come after supporters of the MHP attacked a commemoration ceremony held for the party's founder in the capital Ankara on the weekend.

A group of some 50 Grey Wolves members raided the event that was held to commemorate Alparslan Türkeş by the Alparslan Türkeş Foundation in the Yenimahalle district on Nov. 28. Several people were wounded as a result.

It's common for the paramilitaries of the MHP to attack critics of their party, since they enjoy impunity. The Grey Wolves - a group of far-right ultra-nationalist Turks - are banned in several European countries due to their constant attacks.

MHP Ankara provincial chief Turgay Baştuğ was accused of instigating the attack on the Türkeş commemoration with a social media post he shared a day before the event.

In a series of tweets, Baştuğ slammed the speakers of the event for "betraying" Türkeş. He also slammed one of the speakers for continuing his political career at the right-wing Good (İYİ) Party.

"The Grey Wolves members will never accept those who betrayed Türkeş and our leader Devlet Bahçeli to commemorate Alparslan Türkeş," Baştuğ said.

CHP defends Yavaş

According to Bahçeli, Yavaş, who is from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was responsible for the brawl.

The CHP was quick to respond to Bahçeli's claims and threats, saying that Yavaş has the backing of Ankara residents.

"The breath of the people of Ankara and the People's Alliance are on Yavaş's back," CHP deputy leader Seyit Torun said, referring to the opposition alliance consisting of the CHP and the right-wing Good (İYİ) Party.

"These threats have never benefited anyone and will never do so," Torun said, vowing to stand with Yavaş in the face of Bahçeli's remarks.

Topics MHP Mansur Yavaş Ankara Turkey Grey Wolves