By Admin 
There was a huge uproar in the Turkish Parliament on Wednesday (11 February 2026) when a scuffle broke out between the MPs. The ruling party and the opposition came face to face regarding the reshuffle in the cabinet of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The reason for the controversy was the decision to appoint Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek as the country’s new Justice Minister. Opposition MPs strongly opposed this appointment, after which there was a heated debate in the Parliament and then the matter reached a fight.
Turkish parliamentarians come to blows over the appointment of Akin Gurlek as the country’s new justice minister. pic.twitter.com/ghCR4zP3YM
— Yeshi Seli (@YeshiSeli) February 11, 2026
How did the controversy escalate?
According to the report, when Akin Gurlek was to be sworn in as Justice Minister, opposition MPs started protesting on the floor of Parliament. During this, MPs from the ruling party also came forward and sloganeering started between the two groups. Within no time, pushing and shoving started. Some MPs were seen kicking and punching each other. The security personnel had to make a lot of efforts to intervene. The functioning of Parliament was disrupted for a long time.
What is the opposition’s allegation?
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has raised questions on the appointment of Akin Gurlek. The opposition alleges that Gurlek, while serving as the Chief Prosecutor of Istanbul, initiated several politically motivated cases against CHP leaders. However, the Erdogan government has rejected these allegations. The government says that Turkey’s judiciary is independent and works without any political pressure.
Swearing in and new cabinet change
Despite the uproar, Akin Gurlek took oath as Justice Minister with the support of the ruling party. In the cabinet reshuffle, Mustafa Siftasi has been made the new Interior Minister. He had previously been the governor of Erzurum province.
politically sensitive times
This reshuffle has taken place at a time when the political atmosphere in Turkey is already tense. Many big leaders of the opposition have been put in jail. These also include Istanbul Mayor and Erdogan’s main political rival Ekrem Imamoglu. In such a situation, this uproar in the Parliament points towards the increasing conflict in Turkish politics.