In his weekly group speech, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli attacked Cumhuriyet columnist Barış Terkoğlu for his article titled “Will Erdoğan throw Bahçeli off his back?” with the following sentences: “It is a despicable attempt by some mentally retarded people to write an article titled ‘Will Erdoğan throw Bahçeli off his back?’ and talk about a problem between the AK Party and the MHP. Thank God, throughout our political life, listen carefully here, and answer them when you discuss among yourselves, we have never ridden on anyone’s back. We have never put anyone on our backs.” (November 21)