Has all else failed for the MHP?

Fulya Vatansever

The plot surrounding the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) video scandal thickened when MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli accused those “beyond the [Atlantic] ocean” of having a role in the emergence of the scandal where illicit recordings showing senior MHP party members in intimate and compromising circumstances were leaked on the Internet.

With “beyond the ocean” being considered code in Turkish political literature referring to Fethullah Gülen and considering the fact that Bahçeli had also targeted the Gülen community prior to the disclosure of these videos, many observers read these statements as part of the MHP leader’s broader sustained attack on the community and are questioning the ultimate purpose of this enterprise.

Erdoğan: Bahceli's Fethullah Gülen remarks tantamount to betrayal

Mustafa Ünal

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has criticized Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli's controversial statements about Islamic scholar and intellectual Fethullah Gülen, describing his remarks as being “tantamount to betrayal [of the MHP's roots].”

“To me, the MHP's attack on Gülen is tantamount to betrayal. It is a very ugly thing. Does Gülen not have any business other than dealing with Bahçeli? First, Gülen's position does not allow such a thing. The things he occupies himself with do not allow such a thing. What he did is very ugly and shameful. I condemn [Bahçeli's remarks] to the extent of betrayal,” Erdoğan said.

Bahçeli continues to draw criticism for remarks on Gülen

Hüseyin Keleş

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli continues to draw criticism for his offensive statements about Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen whom he pointed to as a mastermind behind scandalous videos that involve senior MHP members.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Erdoğan Toprak said it was very wrong for Bahçeli to associate Gülen with the video scandals involving several MHP members. “It is very wrong to involve individuals who have nothing to do with these incidents, I mean the person who is referred as ‘beyond the [Atlantic] ocean’ in this incident. A politician needs to be reasonable. Why are you involving someone else in your trouble? Gülen is a figure who has made contributions to the education of this country in the international arena. So, I find his being pulled into such an issue is very wrong,” Toprak told Today’s Zaman.