Çiçek slams Dervişoğlu: Your motive is political interest

BY AHMET TAŞ | WISE NEWS PRESS 

 ANKARA, TÜRKİYE —  Columnist Yıldıray Çiçek has issued a sharp rebuttal to İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu, accusing the opposition leader of prioritizing "political benefit" over nationalist ideology following his controversial remarks regarding MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli.

The tension flared after Dervişoğlu targeted Bahçeli with the statement, "You are not my comrade-in-arms; you are the comrade of Abdullah Öcalan," referring to the jailed leader of the PKK. In his analysis, Çiçek argued that Dervişoğlu lacks the moral standing to make such claims, pointing to İYİ Party’s history of electoral cooperation with the HDP.

Historical alliances and HDP cooperation

Çiçek highlighted that İYİ Party entered into alliances with the HDP—frequently described as the political extension of the PKK—during both the 2019 local elections and the 2023 Presidential elections. He pointed out that Dervişoğlu remained silent during these periods of cooperation, which included drafting joint constitutional proposals and maintaining a political line similar to the HDP regarding military maneuvers.

Furthermore, the columnist reminded readers of allegations that early drafts of the İYİ Party program contained language potentially legitimizing a "Kurdistan" in the region, a claim previously reported by outlets such as Sözcü and Oda TV.

Skepticism over counter-terrorism operations

A significant portion of the critique focused on Dervişoğlu's stance regarding the Turkish Armed Forces' operations in Syria. Çiçek claimed that Dervişoğlu and his party had previously opposed the "Olive Branch" (Afrin) operation, labeling it a "scenario for a survival problem" to bolster the current government.

More recently, Dervişoğlu’s comments downplaying the success of clearing PKK/YPG forces from the Aleppo region were met with backlash. Çiçek argued that Dervişoğlu’s skepticism regarding the removal of the SDG (SDF) from Western Euphrates aligns with the "betrayal narrative" of other opposition factions.

"To Dervişoğlu, the Turkish state’s strategic call for the PKK to dissolve is something to be resisted, yet he seems comfortable with the international legitimacy sought by figures like Mazlum Abdi," Çiçek stated.

Ideological shifts and "Ulkuçu" identity

The analysis also questioned Dervişoğlu's current claim to the "nationalist" (Ulkücü) cause. Çiçek recalled Dervişoğlu’s own statement from five years ago: "I will never say I am an 'Ulkücü' or that I was one again; our only effort is to be İYİ (Good)."

According to Çiçek, this abandonment of the core movement's identity makes Dervişoğlu’s current "nationalist" criticisms of Bahçeli unfounded. The columnist concluded that İYİ Party is merely clinging to "anti-terrorism" rhetoric out of political desperation as the party’s influence wanes under the "Sun" emblem.

Final assessment: A matter of political benefit

The rebuttal ended by accusing Dervişoğlu of being ready to re-align with the DEM Party (HDP's successor) if it served his political interests. Çiçek dismissed Dervişoğlu's recent interactions with DEM Party members in the Turkish Parliament as proof of this opportunistic approach.

"Müsavat Dervişoğlu, your cause is only a cause of political benefit," Çiçek concluded, urging the leader to reflect on his political history before criticizing the leadership of the MHP.

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