Turkish state broadcaster opens investigation into anchor's ‘baby opposition’ remark

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

A a group of MHP supporters gathered in front of the TRT’s building in the Tepebaşı neighborhood of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district following the anchorwoman's remarks on Jan. 25. DHA photo

Turkey’s state television has opened an investigation after one of its anchorwomen called the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) a “baby opposition” live on air, triggering a protest from the party’s supporters. 

TRT anchorwoman Anda Özmen called the MHP a “baby [yavru] opposition” during the main news bulletin on Jan. 25. TRT Türk News Coordinator Nasuhi Güngör wrote on his Twitter account that the channel had started an investigation into the incident, noting that the remark was not included in the news text. 

However, a group of MHP supporters gathered in front of the TRT’s building in the Tepebaşı neighborhood of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district, chanting slogans “Tell us to die, we will die; tell us to kill, we will kill,” “We are the soldiers of Alparslan Türkeş [the founder of the MHP],” and “TRT don’t get surprised, don’t try our patience.”

Özmen apologized to the MHP via her Twitter account right after the news program, saying she did not intend to cause offense. 

“I apologize to the MHP for making a gaffe on the live news program tonight. It was a wrong remark which occurred completely spontaneously, without any bad intentions and only to make a connection between the two news reports. I apologize again,” Özmen wrote. 

The MHP is the second big opposition party in the country following the main opposition Republican People’s Party (MHP). The word “yavru” is widely used to define Turkish Cyprus as the “yavru vatan” (baby homeland).