Row over Lausanne Treaty continues to roil Turkish politics

Turkish politics continues to be roiled by the debate over the 1923 Lausanne Treaty that established the Republic of Turkey, after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan derided it as "not a victory." 

Statement to be made from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the opposition.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli criticized Erdoğan's remarks, saying the issue should be left to historians.

"There are always unproductive conflicts and the search for polarization never ends. To be honest I'm surprised. Our new subject is now Lausanne," Bahçeli wrote on his Twitter account, adding that Erdoğan "contradicted himself."

"Erdoğan on July 24 said the Lausanne Treaty was the 'title deed of the republic.' After two months he said it was being wrongly presented as a victory. Isn't this a contradiction?" he asked. 

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu had previously also criticized Erdoğan's statements, saying "no one has the right to betray their history."

"Lausanne is Turkey's deed. We defend [the Treaty of] Lausanne, they defended Sevres," said Kılıçdaroğlu, referring to the Treat of Sevres of 1920, which marked the beginning of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire.

Speaking to reporters late on Oct. 1, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım slammed Kılıçdaroğlu's statements, saying that "engaging in politics over Lausanne won't make Kılıçdaroğlu gain anything." 

"These statements are absolutely wrong. They have no benefit to the unity of the people," Yıldırım said.

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