# Turkish political dispute over wedding speech

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-political-dispute-over-wedding-speech
> Updated: 2026-09-14T17:17:00.000Z. Sources: 25. Developments: 2.

A political dispute emerged following a speech by former TBMM Speaker Bülent Arınç at the wedding of Mehmet Davutoğlu, son of former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. During the ceremony, Arınç praised Davutoğlu’s conduct during a legal investigation but criticized former Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek, remarking that he watched with shame as Gökçek was “chewing gum loudly” while attending a prosecutor’s summons.

Gökçek responded by accusing Arınç of hypocrisy, while Presidential Advisor Oktay Saral and Fatih Mayor Ergün Turan criticized the use of a private wedding as a platform for political messaging. 

In response to the backlash, Arınç issued a statement defending his remarks and claiming they were taken out of context by “purposeful and malicious” individuals. He reaffirmed his long-standing loyalty to President Erdoğan and the AK Party, while describing his detractors as lacking “morality and dignity.”

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: Bülent Arınç responds to criticism over wedding speech

Former Turkish Speaker Bülent Arınç defended his controversial wedding speech targeting Melih Gökçek, claiming critics took his words out of context while reaffirming his loyalty to the AK Party.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/blent-arn-responds-to-criticism-over-wedding-speech

### 2026-09-12: Bülent Arınç sparks political row at Ahmet Davutoğlu’s son’s wedding

Former TBMM Speaker Bülent Arınç sparked a political row at Ahmet Davutoğlu’s son’s wedding by criticizing Melih Gökçek, leading to sharp rebuttals from Gökçek and presidential advisors.

21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ahmet-davutolus-sons-wedding-draws-turkish-political-leaders

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Cite as: Turkish political dispute over wedding speech. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-political-dispute-over-wedding-speech