Major Brawl Erupts in Turkish Parliament, Lawmakers Trade Punches as Video Goes Viral
- Turkish parliament erupted in chaos as lawmakers clashed over the controversial judicial minister appointment
- Opposition lawmakers sustained injuries and property damage amidst a heated brawl during a parliamentary session
- Senior Turkish lawmaker sought to strengthen ties with the US Congress amidst ongoing political tensions
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering world news and global affairs.
Istanbul, Turkey - A brawl-like situation broke out inside the Turkish parliament on Wednesday, February 11.
As reported by The Times of India, the situation occurred after the ruling party and the opposition clashed over the appointment of a controversial leader as a judicial minister in a cabinet reshuffle.
Source: Twitter
Turkish parliament erupts in chaos
CNBCTV18 also noted the development.
A CNN reporter said some lawmakers removed their shoes during the scuffle, calling the scenes “images that will be remembered for a long time.” Turkish media reported that CHP lawmaker Mahmut Tanal suffered a broken nose. Property inside the chamber was also damaged.
Opposition legislators tried to block Istanbul chief prosecutor Akin Gurlek from taking the oath of office in parliament. As tempers flared, legislators were seen pushing each other, with some hurling punches.
The X video can be watched below:
Gurlek had presided over high‑profile trials against several members of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, proceedings that the opposition has long denounced as politically motivated.
Gurlek has served as Istanbul’s chief prosecutor since 2024, overseeing a sweeping series of arrests and indictments targeting CHP officials. The investigations included multiple probes into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan’s most prominent political rival.
Source: Twitter
The former prosecutor was later seen taking the oath surrounded by ruling party legislators. Erdogan also named Mustafa Ciftci, governor of the eastern province of Erzurum, as interior minister.
The new appointments come as Turkey is debating possible constitutional reforms and pursuing a peace initiative with the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party, aimed at ending a decades‑long conflict. Parliament is expected to pass reforms to support the process.
Turkish parliamentary delegation to visit US
Meanwhile, a senior Turkish lawmaker is in Washington this week seeking to reinvigorate ties between the Turkish parliament and the US Congress, as Ankara looks to narrow gaps that persist despite improving dialogue at the executive level.
Per TRT World, Fuat Oktay, head of Türkiye’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, said communication with the US administration and at the presidential level remains “extremely positive,” but acknowledged that progress on Capitol Hill has been slower, largely due to domestic political priorities.
Leading a delegation, Oktay is set to meet the chairs of the Senate and House foreign relations committees on Friday, February 13, aiming to establish what he described as “healthy and sustainable” channels between the two legislatures.
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Presidency reacts as Tinubu stumbles in Turkey
Legit.ng earlier reported that Dada Olusegun, senior special adviser on social media to President Bola Tinubu, played down concerns over his principal’s slip in Turkey.
The awkward moment involving the 73-year-old Nigerian leader sparked widespread reactions on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter).
Source: Legit.ng
