Scuffle in Turkish Parliament during ministerial swearing-in ceremony

On February 11, 2026, a violent physical confrontation broke out in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Ministers of Justice and Interior. The tension began when opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies, including Mahmut Tanal, occupied the podium to protest the appointment of Akin Gurlek as Justice Minister. The CHP argued that Gurlek, the former Istanbul Chief Prosecutor, had not resigned from his previous post and was thus ineligible to be sworn in. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies defended the process as constitutional, leading to a brawl involving several lawmakers. During the scuffle, AKP deputy Osman Gokcek reportedly punched Mahmut Tanal, causing him a nasal injury and bleeding. Despite the chaos and a brief 15-minute suspension, Akin Gurlek and Mustafa Ciftci were eventually sworn into their roles. The incident coincided with a diplomatic visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdag maintained that there were no procedural irregularities regarding the appointments.