FETÖ reaction from MHP's Taytak to former Minister Hüseyin Çelik's statements

The statements made by Hüseyin Çelik, one of the founding figures of the AK Party and former Minister of National Education, deeply shook the political agenda in Türkiye. Openly criticizing the Presidential Government System in the YouTube programs he attended, Çelik claimed that his ties with the AK Party had de facto severed. He also made highly discussed assessments regarding the party's future after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Cumhur İttifakı established with the MHP, and the 15 Temmuz coup attempt. These outbursts caused wide repercussions in both government and opposition circles. These debates, which are at the center of the news, also brought important questions regarding Türkiye's recent political history to the agenda.

The first and harshest reaction to Hüseyin Çelik's statements came from MHP Afyonkarahisar Deputy Mehmet Taytak. Sharing a post on his social media account, Taytak accused Çelik of "carrying water to FETÖ's mill." Taytak emphasized that it was unacceptable for the former minister to cast doubt on 15 Temmuz and direct criticisms at the Cumhur İttifakı on opposition screens. The MHP deputy also drew attention to Hüseyin Çelik's past record in his statement, implying that the assessments in question intentionally carried a hostile intention. This harsh outburst revealed the dimensions of this crisis experienced within the boundaries of the Cumhur İttifakı between the two parties.

Another important leg of the political discussion was the future of the parties and the nature of the Cumhur İttifakı. Arguing that the alliance between the MHP and the AK Party politically harmed the AK Party, Hüseyin Çelik used very harsh expressions, stating, "Whoever the MHP has partnered with, it has finished them off." Linking the AK Party's recent vote losses to this partnership, Çelik argued that his party was increasingly moving away from its founding principles. In response to these criticisms, MHP's Mehmet Taytak defended MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, stating that his party has always stood by the state and the nation. Defending the alliance's importance and the MHP's political vision, Taytak said, "Wherever the MHP is, there is unity, welfare, and state consciousness."

One of the most striking claims Çelik expressed in the program was regarding the future of the AK Party. Arguing that it is extremely difficult for political parties to survive following charismatic leaders, the former minister recalled the examples of the Motherland Party and the True Path Party from the past. In this context, Çelik painted a pessimistic picture regarding the future of the ruling party, stating, "The AK Party has no chance of survival after Recep Tayyip Erdoğan." These words showed how deep the divergent views within the AK Party and the debates on party identity are. Furthermore, his argument that the Presidential Government System yielded negative consequences for Türkiye also fueled ongoing debates about the current system.

The former minister's statements were not limited to current political alliances but also extended to the 15 Temmuz coup attempt and subsequent processes. Hüseyin Çelik expressed his questioning of the process by criticizing the fact that then-Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar and MİT Undersecretary Hakan Fidan did not testify at the TBMM Coup Investigation Commission. Touching upon the situation of those dismissed from public service by statutory decrees (KHK) following the coup attempt, Çelik made severe criticisms, claiming that rights violations occurred during this process. Following all these developments, all eyes are now turned to the new statements expected from the AK Party and MHP fronts in the coming days. It is anticipated that these claims and assessments, which have been reflected in the public opinion, will continue to intensely occupy Türkiye's political agenda in the upcoming period.