Brawl Erupts in Turkish Parliament, Opposition Protests Against New Minister

2026-02-13 - 00:26

TÜRKIYE – Fists flew in Turkey’s parliament today, as opposition lawmakers tried to block President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s new justice minister from taking his oath. The chaos erupted after Erdogan appointed Akin Gurlek, a former Istanbul chief prosecutor who has overseen arrests and cases targeting the main opposition Republican People’s Party, including probes into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan’s key rival. Opposition members rushed the podium, sparking pushing and punching between lawmakers. Gurlek eventually took the oath, surrounded by ruling party allies.