Far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Tuesday accused the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) of undermining Turkey’s national security and “collaborating with separatist elements.”
At a press conference Bahçeli directed harsh criticism at CHP leader Özgür Özel, accusing him of using divisive rhetoric. Özel had previously claimed that two high-ranking MHP members were in communication with the mastermind behind the murder of former Grey Wolves leader Sinan Ateş.
“One of them has been messaging with the instigator. Those who know the content of the message will reveal it to all of Turkey when the time comes,” Özel stated.
Ateş was fatally shot in Ankara on December 30, 2022. The ongoing trial of 22 suspects, however, has so far not addressed the alleged masterminds behind the assassination.
Bahçeli’s statements followed Özel’s comments implicating MHP figures in the murder case, which has rocked the political landscape.
Bahçeli also accused the CHP of cooperating with the pro-Kurdish Democracy and Progress Party (DEM), which he labeled as harmful to national security. He criticized the CHP for its stance on Kurdish issues and its alleged partnership with separatist groups.
“The CHP, in cooperation with the DEM Party, is jeopardizing our national security and democracy,” Bahçeli said.
The MHP’s accusations extend to the CHP’s alleged influence over the discourse on Turkey’s economy. Bahçeli dismissed Özel’s claims of an economic crisis as fearmongering, claiming that Turkey’s economy is on an upward trajectory.
During the press conference Bahçeli also mentioned a list of 154 individuals he accused of defaming the MHP over the murder of former Grey Wolves leader Ateş.
The list, which includes politicians, journalists, legal experts and academics, was shown to the media as Bahçeli vowed legal action.
“This dossier is in our hands. When the time comes, legal action will be taken. We will definitely settle accounts on legal grounds,” Bahçeli said.
The Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) strongly condemned the targeting of journalists included on Bahçeli’s list.
The TGC stated, “Threatening, targeting, injuring and killing journalists has never led anyone to success. The truth cannot be hidden. The perpetrators of the murders are not journalists.”
The TGC highlighted that 63 journalists are among those accused by the MHP, including TGC Vice President Doğan Şentürk and several prominent media figures. The association emphasized that journalism is not a crime and called for the protection of press freedom. “Journalists are responsible to the public and the truth. They must freely access all sources of information and cover events affecting the public interest,” the TGC declared
The controversy surrounding Ateş’s murder has also drawn international attention due to the Grey Wolves’ notoriety. The ultranationalist group, considered the MHP’s unofficial paramilitary wing, has been implicated in numerous violent incidents targeting ethnic minorities.
International bodies, including the European Parliament, have called for scrutiny and potential bans on the Grey Wolves. In 2020, France banned the group following the defacement of a memorial to Armenian genocide victims.