Parliament speaker chides deputies over fight at Turkish Parliament

ANKARA

DHA Photo

Following a brawl that erupted between deputies at Parliament on Jan. 23, Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek has slammed those involved and offered an apology to the Turkish people for the “inappropriate images."

“Parliament does not deserve these images,” Çiçek told reporters on Jan. 24.

President Gül has also weighed into the debate, saying changes should also be made to the language used by MPs. “I hope such incidents are final and will not repeat,” Gül said.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Bülent Tezcan was injured in a fight at Parliament on Jan. 23, and had to be taken to a nearby hospital.

Tension had escalated after CHP Bolu Deputy Tanju Özcan made a speech on claims that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son, Bilal Erdoğan, had been summoned to testify as a part of a corruption probe. 

Verbal exchanges on the sensitive topic quickly turned into fisticuffs, with ruling Justice and Development  Party (AKP) Deputy Oktay Saral punching Tezcan after the latter told AKP lawmakers to “shut up.”

Tezcan’s glasses were broken in the fracas and he was injured in the eye.