Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey is no longer a country that can be shaken by “a few agitators” and reaffirmed his government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism, as he accused the opposition of exploiting national unity for political gain.
“Both at home and abroad, everyone has once again seen that Turkey is no longer a country that veers off course or loses sight of its goals due to the outcries of a few provocateurs or the chaos stirred by a handful of vandals,” Erdogan said in a post on social media platform X.
Erdogan called on the nation to continue trusting his leadership, framing recent developments as part of a broader vision for a “Century of Turkey.” He highlighted the country’s strides in strengthening infrastructure, enhancing security, and positioning itself as a global production hub.
“Turkey is preparing to leave behind its 40-year struggle with terrorism, emerging as a beacon of hope in its region with a solid security paradigm. The reality of a globally respected Turkey with ambitions across all fields is the outcome and expression of these efforts,” he said.
In a sharp rebuke to the opposition, Erdogan accused them of siding with what he termed “street terrorists” who attack security forces while criticizing police officers for distributing candy to children during recent Newroz celebrations.
“They have no problem with stones, Molotov cocktails, or acid being thrown at our police. They are unfazed when shopkeepers’ windows are smashed or historical mosques are disrespected. But when a police officer buys cotton candy for children, they take issue with that,” he said.
Erdogan argued that the opposition’s rhetoric had long been rejected by the people and would continue to fail.
“As we move closer to a terror-free Turkey, those who lose their tools of exploitation will grow even more hysterical. Regardless of their actions, we remain committed to freeing our nation from the scourge of terrorism,” he said.
Erdogan also took aim at the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), accusing it of clinging to outdated political practices reminiscent of the single-party era.
“Even after 80 years, the CHP has shown it hasn’t changed a bit. Their understanding of democracy still cannot move beyond the farce of open voting and secret counting. We’ll keep watching their antics with a smile,” he said.
