Main political events in Türkiye in the last week.
Main political events in Türkiye in the last week.
Last week, the anniversary of the August 30, 1922 Victory, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and opening the door to the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country.
The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) held the “Special Session on Palestine”.
Another important event of the week was President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting.
103rd Anniversary of the August 30 Victory
The Victory Day and Turkish Armed Forces Day were celebrated nationwide.
Commemorations had wide participation from both state officials and the public on the 103th anniversary of the historic victory on August 30, 1922, when, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish nation expelled the Greek forces backed by British imperialism from Anatolia.
The ceremonies began with a memorial at Anıtkabir, the eternal resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
A delegation, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, visited Anıtkabir. Signing the Anıtkabir Special Guestbook, President Erdoğan said:
“Those with occupation ambitions, just as a century ago, continue to pursue hidden agendas today. In the face of plans to destabilize our region, our state takes every necessary measure to ensure its security and the well-being of its citizens.”
The procession led by President Erdoğan included TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, members of the Presidential Cabinet, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, Good Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu, heads of high judicial bodies, military commanders, representatives of political parties, bureaucrats, and other state officials.
Following the Anıtkabir memorial, a ceremony was held at the Presidential Complex. Alongside state officials, foreign ambassadors also attended the event.
After the state ceremonies, Anıtkabir was opened to the public, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors, as in previous years. Last year, more than 350,000 citizens had visited Anıtkabir on August 30.
During the state ceremony at Anıtkabir, some individuals disrupted the order by chanting slogans in support of President Erdoğan, sparking public debate and criticism.
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel also released a message. It reads:
“The brightest emblem of our struggle for independence; the name of hope, freedom, and courage is August 30. We continue on the path of all our heroes who have illuminated our way and given hope to our homeland, foremost among them Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and we remember them with respect and gratitude. The only principle we must never forget in bringing our Republic to the level of contemporary civilizations is: ‘Victory belongs to those who can say, ‘Victory is mine.’ Happy August 30 Victory Day!”
The ruling coalition partner, Nationalist Movement Party’s chairman (MHP) Devlet Bahçeli, also issued a message on August 30:
“The Great Offensive, which began on August 26, 1922, culminated in a magnificent victory on August 30, 1922, and was followed by the heroic expulsion of occupying forces from our lands, reaching its conclusion in İzmir on September 9, 1922, a dazzling event with widespread impact, whose echoes still resonate today. What united the offensive with victory was not merely military superiority on the battlefield. Behind and at the heart of the August 30 Battle of the Commander-in-Chief lay strategic mastery, political tactical expertise, meticulously planned preparatory phases, unwavering intellect and patience, and, of course, a love of faith and independence no adversary could overcome. The August 30 Victory heralded the Republic of Türkiye and marked the end of a long period of war.”
Vatan Party leader Doğu Perinçek also released a message for August 30, stating:
“Campaigns aiming to weaken the Turkish army are doomed to fail. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a security stronghold for our homeland in the Eastern Mediterranean. Intensifying efforts for the recognition of the TRNC is a task for our time. Today, on the front stretching from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and the Strait of Hormuz, and from Syria, Russia, Iraq, Iran, and Azerbaijan to the People’s Republic of China, solidarity with Asian countries is the key to new victories. The Eastern Mediterranean will become the geography of new August 30 victories. Drawing inspiration and strength from the August 30 Victory, we celebrate Victory Day with our army and our nation.”
Meanwhile, as part of the August 30 Victory Day celebrations, ceremonies and marches held across the country saw large public participation.
Parliament convenes for a “special session on Palestine”
The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) convened an extraordinary session to address the situation in Palestine, particularly Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The session was held under the chairmanship of TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. At the opening of the session, Kurtulmuş delivered a speech on recent developments in Palestine. He stated that the assembly had gathered to discuss Israel’s increased aggression against the Palestinian people, the use of scarcity in Gaza as a weapon of destruction, the escalation of genocidal practices, and attempts to fully annex Gaza:
“Neither oppression, nor atrocity, nor barbarism, nor massacre, nor genocide adequately capture what Zionist Israel has done, Nearly 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, and that civilian infrastructure has been deliberately targeted, with schools, places of worship, and hospitals being ruthlessly bombed.
Even food aid convoys have been turned into death traps by Zionist barbarians. Israel continues its crimes against humanity by deciding to expand its Gaza occupation operation. It is confirmed by the UN and other international organizations that Israel deliberately subjects the people of Gaza to hunger and deprivation. Israel must immediately accept a ceasefire and withdraw all armed units from the region. Gaza must urgently be rebuilt according to prepared international humanitarian aid and reconstruction plans. The governance of the area must belong to the Palestinians, while security should be guaranteed by a UN peacekeeping force. As recently stated by the President of Ireland, a UN deployment should urgently be sent to ensure humanitarian conditions in Gaza.”
Kurtulmuş also highlighted steps taken by TBMM:
“During the process of Türkiye’s intervention in the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, our Parliament made active contributions. Last year, TBMM hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the General Assembly, helping amplify the voice of the State of Palestine on the international stage. Our Parliament supports the Inter-Parliamentary Jerusalem Platform. In April this year, under TBMM’s leadership, we established the ‘Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with Palestine’ in Istanbul, which aims to become one of the leading institutional bodies in the international struggle for the Palestinian cause (…)
The Palestinian cause, no matter what anyone says, is a national cause for us, for Türkiye, and for our people. I once again pledge here that TBMM will continue to support and lead this struggle until a fully free and sovereign Palestinian State is established.”
The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) approved a motion addressing Israel’s decision to expand its occupation in Gaza and the genocide committed against the Palestinian people. The motion received support from all parties.
Yet, tensions arose between government and opposition representatives during the session. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, who attended the session, emphasized that Israel’s massacres in Palestine were carried out with the support of the US, while criticizing the government, particularly Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, for remaining silent in the face of US’ actions. Özel stated:
“If the Minister shows no reaction to the US and Israel, he will receive the response he deserves.
(…)
The Trump administration detained our young citizen Rumeysa Öztürk for 45 days simply for writing in defense of the Palestinian cause. Did you hear Erdoğan defend Rumeysa or criticize the Trump administration? Meanwhile, our citizen Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, also a US national, was killed by Israeli soldiers in Palestine. Did you hear any condemnation from Erdoğan to Trump, the US, or Israel? After all this, Erdoğan says, ‘Özgür Özel cannot question my sensitivity to Palestine.’ I tell him: something that doesn’t exist cannot be questioned. Unfortunately, your concern for Palestine has been purely situational. It’s not a sensitivity toward Palestine but a sensitivity born from fear of Trump.”
Another opposition leader, Good Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu, also strongly criticized the government’s policies toward the US and Israel. Dervişoğlu said:
“I want to shout that condemning Israel and Netanyahu is nothing but an ‘empty show’. I want to emphasize that those who object to this oppression with heart and mind, without grandstanding, can protect the innocent not by repeating impossible actions for effect, but by refusing to participate in them themselves.
(…)
If no one else acts, we, the Turkish Nation, have the strength to do so. Even when our leaders do not, we have proven ourselves as a nation by resisting alone against the conditions of occupation and destruction in 1918. The Turkish Nation, which has inspired the independence of countless other nations, has always been such a nation.
(…)
The coalition led by the Presidency has been the most vocal about the tragedy in Gaza, and they deserve recognition for this. Yet, the head of that same coalition expects us to forget their participation in the Greater Middle East Project (…) Can those who championed this Project truly have the moral right or legitimacy to speak on this matter?”
Müsavat Dervişoğlu also addressed concrete steps that could be taken regarding Gaza, stating:
“In 24 months, we have issued eight condemnations. Roughly one every three months. Yet the case against Netanyahu at The Hague was not initiated by the Republic of Türkiye, which has been governed by the AKP for nearly a quarter of a century, but by South Africa. Did we not have legal experts capable of bringing this case? Or was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs too busy to handle it? Humanitarian aid was dropped by air over Gaza, but this operation was not carried out by us, but the UAE, Jordan, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.”
Erdoğan in China
Another important event of the week was President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. During his visit, Erdoğan held talks with several leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
President Erdoğan first met with President Xi at the Tianjin Guest House. During the press portion of the meeting, Erdoğan said:
“Dear friend, thank you for your special invitation to the summit. I want you to know that your invitation is not only valuable but also meaningful to me. I am pleased to meet with you again on the occasion of the SCO summit, which has the widest participation ever. We wish to continue contributing concretely to the organization’s work. Your initiative to advance global governance is commendable. I attach great importance both to you personally and to our relations with China. I hope that through reciprocal visits we can further accelerate our ties.”
According to a statement from the Presidency’s Communications Directorate, the two leaders thoroughly evaluated bilateral economic cooperation. President Erdoğan emphasized that bilateral trade should be supported by investments to ensure it is balanced and sustainable, highlighted the significant potential in digital technologies, energy, healthcare, and tourism, and noted that improving coordination to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Türkiye would be beneficial.
President Erdoğan emphasized the importance of taking joint steps to align the Middle Corridor with the Belt and Road Initiative.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to regularly utilize existing consultation and cooperation mechanisms.
Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to the “One China” policy while highlighting the strategic dimension of bilateral relations.
The discussions also covered the latest situation in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, potential joint steps for Syria’s reconstruction, and other regional and global issues.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that maintaining the high-level development of bilateral relations serves not only the fundamental interests of both countries but also the shared interests of the Global South, saying “China and Türkiye are rising major countries with a spirit of independence and important members of the Global South.”
Xi added that China and Türkiye should continue taking mutual initiatives to embrace the trends of the times, pursue peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes, and achieve national prosperity. He said: “The two countries should elevate their strategic cooperation to a new level and work together to build a more just and equitable global governance system.”
Noting that next year will mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Türkiye, Xi expressed hope that both sides would use the occasion as an opportunity to take their relations to a new level, adding:
“First, we must strengthen mutual political trust, support each other on issues concerning fundamental interests and concerns, and develop counter-terrorism and security cooperation. Second, we should expand practical cooperation, creating synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Middle Corridor Initiative. We must advance the southern corridor of China-Europe freight trains. We should deepen collaboration in traditional fields such as economy, trade, culture, and tourism, and achieve new successes in areas such as new energy sources, 5G, and biopharmaceuticals.”
During the summit, Erdoğan also met with Pakistan President Shehbaz Sharif. According to a statement from the Presidency Communications Directorate, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations between Türkiye and Pakistan, regional and global issues.
President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye and Pakistan are making efforts to enhance cooperation in trade, energy, defense industry, and security. Erdoğan also expressed his content with Pakistan’s role in strengthening relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and praised the solidarity shown on this matter.
President Erdoğan also met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, President Erdoğan stated that relations between Türkiye and Russia continue to progress on the basis of mutual respect and common interests, and that the spirit of cooperation that has existed since the past continues in areas such as trade, tourism, investments, and energy.
The President stated that Türkiye’s efforts for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine continue and that he believes the Istanbul negotiations contribute to the peace process.
President Erdoğan expressed his hope that the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia would lead to lasting peace, stating that lasting stability in the Caucasus was in the mutual interest of Türkiye and Russia.
The meeting also included an exchange of views on Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the development of Syria while preserving its territorial integrity and political unity.