The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) witnessed a moment of significant political tension on October 1, 2026, as the 28th Term, 5th Legislative Year officially commenced. What was intended to be a ceremonial and strategic opening was marked by a sharp divide when members of the "Yeni Parti" (New Party) parliamentary group staged a walkout just as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took the podium to deliver his traditional opening address. The incident immediately triggered a wave of condemnation from high-ranking officials within the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Presidency, who characterized the move as a breach of state decorum and an affront to the "national will."
The opening of a new legislative year in Turkey is traditionally regarded as a cornerstone of the country’s democratic calendar. It is the moment when the Head of State outlines the government’s vision, legislative priorities, and strategic outlook for the coming months. However, the decision by the Yeni Parti deputies to vacate the General Assembly hall before the President began his speech shifted the focus from policy to political conduct, prompting a series of stern rebukes from government figures who argued that such protests undermine the sanctity of the parliament.
Communications Director Duran: A Disregard for State Tradition
Burhanettin Duran, the Presidency’s Director of Communications, was among the first to voice his disapproval. In a detailed statement shared via his social media accounts, Duran emphasized that the TBMM is not merely a building but the ultimate "manifestation of the national will." He argued that the assembly is designed to be a sanctuary where diverse political ideologies coexist, debate, and serve the interests of the nation under a single roof.
Duran described the walkout by the Yeni Parti group as a gesture that transcended a simple political disagreement. "The departure of the Yeni Parti Group from the General Assembly hall at the moment our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, took the podium to address the opening of the new legislative year is more than just a political stance against the Presidency," Duran stated. "It is a serious act of disrespect toward the national will, our deep-rooted state traditions, and established parliamentary customs. This behavior is impolite, unbecoming, and inconsistent with the dignity of our ‘Gazi’ (Veteran) Assembly."
Expanding on the principles of democratic engagement, Duran noted that true democratic politics requires a level of maturity that involves listening to the elected Head of State within the halls of the people’s parliament. He suggested that placing partisan conflicts above the shared protocols of the state and the common law of the Assembly is a failure of representative responsibility. According to Duran, the ability to tolerate differing viewpoints and respect the office of the Presidency is a prerequisite for any group claiming to represent the public interest.
AK Party Spokesperson Çelik: A Contradiction in Parliamentary Advocacy
AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik joined the chorus of criticism, framing the walkout as a profound contradiction. Çelik pointed out that the opposition frequently calls for a "stronger parliament," yet their actions in the General Assembly hall appeared to devalue the very institution they claim to champion.
Çelik characterized President Erdoğan’s address as a "historic speech" that provided a "strategic direction" for the future of both the state and the nation’s political life. He noted that the President’s evaluations would serve as a roadmap for the government’s upcoming initiatives and that these points would be analyzed in depth by the party and the public in the days to follow.
"The act of the Yeni Parti members leaving the General Assembly before the speech began is a sign of disrespect toward our Parliament and the Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey," Çelik remarked. He highlighted what he perceived as a significant weakness in the opposition’s approach to institutional respect. "Those who constantly talk about the need to strengthen the Parliament have shown a total lack of capacity when it comes to giving the Parliament the respect it deserves. It is a great contradiction to advocate for parliamentary strength while simultaneously abandoning the floor."
Çelik further asserted that the Yeni Parti is increasingly becoming synonymous with a "lack of politics" rather than the production of viable political alternatives. He concluded his remarks by wishing the nation a productive new legislative year and urged citizens who were unable to watch the live broadcast to read or listen to the President’s speech, describing it as a vital document for understanding the country’s trajectory.
Deputy Chairman Yayman: The Hallmark of ‘Cheap Politics’
Hüseyin Yayman, a Deputy Chairman of the AK Party, offered a particularly stinging critique of the walkout, labeling it as a "cheap political maneuver" rather than an act of genuine political courage. Writing on his social media platform, Yayman argued that the TBMM is a place for dialogue and representation, not a place from which to flee.
"Turning your back on the General Assembly hall when our President takes the podium is not a display of political bravery; it is the clearest indicator of cheap politics," Yayman wrote. He emphasized that the TBMM is the seat of the national will and that its rostrum should be treated with the utmost seriousness.
Yayman also took aim at the identity of the opposition group, stating, "To a mindset whose name is ‘New’ but whose politics are ‘Old’ and whose mentality is ‘Obsolete,’ we have only one thing to say: You are on the wrong side of history." He argued that by protesting the President, the deputies were effectively protesting the voters who put him in office. "You can criticize, you can oppose, and you can think differently. However, you cannot use the rostrum of the Parliament and the office of national representation as a tool for your daily political calculations. Our nation clearly sees who is practicing politics for the sake of the country’s issues and who is chasing cheap headlines through staged spectacles."
Faruk Acar: A Failure of State Etiquette
Faruk Acar, the AK Party’s Deputy Chairman in charge of Promotion and Media, dismissed the walkout as an insignificant act that reflected more on the opposition’s own standards than on the government. Acar suggested that the Yeni Parti deputies were overestimating the impact of their protest.
"Today, the Yeni Parti Group left the hall as if they were doing something very significant," Acar noted. "First of all, do not assign yourselves so much importance. This act of impoliteness has no real value or merit from our perspective. Whether you are in the hall or not makes no difference to us, but with this display of vulgarity, you are insulting both the national will and this Veteran Assembly."
Acar contended that the protest would not diminish the President’s movement or his message. Instead, he argued, it served only to highlight the opposition’s "political inadequacy" and their lack of understanding regarding state etiquette (adab). "You have once again demonstrated that you are oblivious to the manners required by the state. Congratulations," he added sarcastically.
General Secretary İnan: A Loss of Credibility Before the Nation
Eyyüp Kadir İnan, the General Secretary of the AK Party, directed his criticism toward the leadership of the opposition, specifically mentioning Özgür Özel in the context of the day’s events. İnan argued that the TBMM is not a stage for personal shows or "visionless" political displays.
"The TBMM General Assembly is not a stage for Özgür Özel to display his lack of political vision or his personal shows," İnan stated. "That is the Veteran Assembly where the will of the nation is manifested. This lofty roof does not resemble convention halls where votes and delegate wills are manipulated through questionable means."
İnan further contrasted the opposition’s behavior at home with their conduct abroad, suggesting a lack of consistency. "It is not surprising that those who stand at attention just to receive a greeting or an appointment from foreign heads of state cannot carry the weight and dignity of the TBMM. Those who turned their backs on the nation’s will by leaving the opening today have lost the validity of any word they might speak throughout the new legislative year in the eyes of the people."
As the 5th Legislative Year of the 28th Term begins, the fallout from this incident suggests that the political atmosphere in Ankara remains highly polarized. While the AK Party officials have rallied to defend the traditions of the state and the dignity of the Presidency, the walkout by the Yeni Parti marks a definitive, albeit controversial, start to a year that promises intense legislative and political debate. The focus now shifts to the legislative agenda itself, as the Parliament prepares to tackle the strategic goals outlined in President Erdoğan’s opening address.
