Erdoğan Criticizes CHP Leader Özel, Extolls “Family” as a National Security Issue
rte kadınlar
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sharply criticized opposition leader Özgür Özel over a proposal to rename a government ministry, calling on the CHP to address internal corruption allegations instead. Erdoğan also emphasized the importance of family values, describing them as a matter of national security.
Erdoğan Targets CHP Over Ministry Proposal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and its leader Özgür Özel, dismissing a proposal to rename the Ministry of Family and Social Services as the “Ministry of Women and Gender Equality.”
In a statement posted on social media, Erdoğan said Özel should abandon what he described as symbolic changes and instead focus on addressing alleged corruption within his party.
“If the CHP leader truly wants to benefit the public and women, he should stop focusing on ministry names and instead deal with corruption, bribery, misconduct and harassment scandals that have spread within his party like a cancer,” Erdoğan said.
He added that if the CHP intended to establish a new institutional structure, it should consider creating a body to combat corruption within its own ranks, referencing former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s earlier calls for internal reform.
Criticism of CHP Leadership
Erdoğan also criticized the current state of the CHP under its leadership, saying the party had strayed from its founding principles.
“We are saddened, on behalf of Turkish politics, by the condition to which a party founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has been reduced under its current leadership,” he said.
He expressed hope that Türkiye’s political system would eventually have what he described as a more capable and constructive opposition.
Family Values Framed as National Security Issue
Speaking separately at an event organized by the AK Party Women’s Branch, Erdoğan highlighted the importance of family values, describing them as central to social stability.
He warned that weakening family structures could have long-term consequences for society and the state.
“We view the protection of the family institution and family values as a matter of national security and survival,” Erdoğan said.
He argued that the family serves as a foundational structure that sustains social cohesion and resilience.
Rising Concerns Over Addiction and Digital Risks
Erdoğan also pointed to increasing risks posed by various forms of addiction, including digital dependency.
He said that new technologies, including artificial intelligence, have contributed to the rise of issues such as screen addiction, cyberbullying, and harmful digital content.
“From online gambling and social media to tobacco, alcohol and drugs, we are making strong efforts to protect our families, especially our youth, from addiction,” Erdoğan said.
He warned that algorithm-driven platforms and digital environments could have harmful effects on children and young people, emphasizing the need for stronger safeguards.
Türkiye’s Social Media Crackdown: Child Protection or Expanding Surveillance?
