Erdoğan Engages in Diplomatic efforts Amidst Domestic Political Attacks
ISTANBUL – President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held meetings with both the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theofilos Giannopoulos and Beykoz Mayor Özlem Vural Gürzel, distributing party rosettes to attendees, as domestic political tensions escalate with sharp criticism leveled against the opposition CHP (Republican PeopleS Party). The meetings come as Turkey reportedly prepares a “diplomatic clamp” intended to pressure Israel, according to Milliyet.
The meetings at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office saw Erdoğan receive Patriarch Giannopoulos and his delegation, culminating in a gift exchange. Simultaneously, the ruling party is actively criticizing the CHP, accusing it of internal strife and corruption.
A statement attributed to “FETRET EVEN” (likely a columnist or spokesperson) vowed to counter what they describe as attempts to “distribute the clouds of dismissal” over Istanbul and prevent a prolonged period of instability (“fetret”).
The statement further alleges the opposition is “integrated with the crisis, seat fight, and chaos,” attempting to pressure courts and incite unrest. Specific accusations center around a recent scandal in Manavgat involving euros, dollars, and gold, with a challenge directed at CHP Chairman Özgür Efendi to account for alleged bribery. The statement suggests he should “calculate the bribery nugs in Manavgat” and apologize for past accusations against police and the judiciary if unable to do so.
Further fueling the attacks, the statement highlights internal accusations within the CHP itself, citing claims of vote-buying and bribery made by CHP members. “Victims,complainants,interventions,confessors,defendants and plaintiffs,all the parties of the CHP,” the statement claims,characterizing the situation as a ”battle of CHP.”
Despite the harsh rhetoric,the ruling party asserts it will maintain “political courtesy” and not be drawn into the CHP’s internal conflicts,while also condemning “threats and street calls.”
