Arıklı Calls on CTP: Resign with 19 MPs, I Will Be the 20th

Arıklı announced that if 19 CTP members of parliament resign, he would also resign from his parliamentary seat. He called on the main opposition party, CTP, to accept Ziya Öztürkler’s election as Speaker and to end the ongoing crisis in Parliament.

“Let CTP choose a reasonable date for elections after the October 2025 presidential election, and we will proceed to elections on that date,” Arıklı stated. He added that discussions had been held with the government’s other coalition partner, the Democratic Party, and they were also supportive of this approach.

“Accept Mr. Öztürkler’s speakership, find a formula, and we will present a reasonable date for early elections to the National Unity Party (UBP) to resolve the crisis. Otherwise, this crisis will cause significant challenges for the country,” he warned.

During the press conference at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Arıklı addressed recent political developments and the turmoil in Parliament. He noted that the current state of Parliament made it impossible for the government to function or for the budget to be discussed.

While the public faces economic difficulties, Arıklı stressed that their expectations were not being met. He underlined that Ziya Öztürkler’s election was legitimate and not subject to debate.

Referencing the Parliamentary Bylaws, Arıklı argued that the relevant clause was misunderstood and inherently ambiguous. He accused the opposition of interpreting the election law to suit their needs, asserting that the law did not apply to internal parliamentary elections and that applying it in this context led to anomalies.

“Mr. Öztürkler was elected, and this is not open to discussion,” Arıklı said, criticizing the opposition for not seeking legal recourse or requesting an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office.

Arıklı also condemned the use of force to disrupt parliamentary proceedings. He recalled his social media statements where he challenged the opposition to resign if they were serious about early elections and reiterated his own willingness to step down if they did.

“I did not say we would resign from the government. It’s not possible for me to decide on leaving the government without consulting my party. What I said was that I would resign from my parliamentary seat. Leaving the government is not a decision I can make alone. If 19 MPs resign, I will be the 20th. I am sending my resignation letter to CTP. If they resign, they should implement my resignation as well,” Arıklı concluded, emphasizing the necessity of parliamentary functionality.