Ergenekon debate in the Nation Alliance

The Ergenekon trial was the biggest discussion topic in Turkey in the 2000s. The trial, which started with bombs found in a slum in Istanbul’s Ümraniye district in 2007, extended to hundreds of officers, journalists, academics and businessmen. Although the trial resulted in the acquittal of all the defendants in 2016, the discussions still continue.

This debate continues between the parties that make up the CHP and the Nation Alliance…

Babacan targeted the Turkish Armed Forces

Ali Babacan, who was a former AK Party member and later founded the Democracy and Atılım Party (DEVA), pointed out the Ergenekon structuring recently and said, “He cannot say that there are no such structures within the TAF.” In his speech at Bilkent University, Babacan said, “We cannot call them pure just because FETO members are dealing with them.”

n another speech Babacan said, “At this point, I especially emphasize the independent and impartial judiciary. Those who do unlawful acts cannot be cleansed in the water fouled by FETO, which attacks our democracy and paralyzes our legal system.”

Reply from Kılıçdaroğlu to his partner

Babacan’s remarks, which cleared FETO’s plots for Ergenekon and Sledgehammer, came from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. “Many of our soldiers were detained with Ergenekon and Sledgehammer conspiracies, great suffering was experienced“. Kılıçdaroğlu said, “Their families have experienced great pain,” and said, “We will bring wicks from the noses of those who have suffered this pain.” Kılıçdaroğlu made this statement during his visit to Nilüfer Tatar, the wife of Deniz Lieutenant Colonel Ali Tatar, who committed suicide while on trial during the Ergenekon trial.

Reply from former lieutenant

A reaction to Babacan’s statement came from Mehmet Ali Çelebi, a former lieutenant and former CHP member. Çelebi, in his Twitter post, said, “Ali Babacan Ergenekon was very disturbed by the acquittals regarding the Sledgehammer conspiracies. He saluted Fetö as in the Turkish Olympics, saying, ‘We are against the statement that these are innocent people since FETO members are struggling.’ In your power, you will still get your answer from the courts!”.

The attitude of the Nation Alliance

The Nation Alliance has 6 members. Among them, the left-wing CHP and the race-oriented IYI Party oppose the Ergenekon trials, while the DEVA Party and the Future Party defend the Ergenekon trials. The Chairman of the Future Party, Ahmet Davutoğlu, is also one of the prime ministers of the AK Party period. The Saadet Party and the Democrat Party do not have a clear stance.