Erdoğan calls for expanded dialogue in Turkish politics

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for broader dialogue and compromise in national politics, urging a more unified approach.

"We want to see a different style and discourse in politics," Erdoğan told his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members in parliament on Oct. 9.

Amid a backdrop of regional conflict, Erdoğan noted the importance of cooperation.

"Considering the atmosphere in our region, we believe that we need to talk more, reach more compromises and expand the ground for dialogue," he said.

"As the [ruling] People's Alliance, we desire and hope to solve our country's problems with the broadest possible consensus in the new period."

His comments came after alliance partner Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) leader, Devlet Bahçeli, shook hands with Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) co-leader Tuncer Bakırhan and other MPs during a plenary session on Oct. 1.

Bahçeli then described the gesture as a "message of our national unity and brotherhood" on Oct. 8.

"We appreciate the statements made by MHP leader Mr. Devlet Bahçeli and find them very valuable for Turkish democracy and the brotherhood of 85 million people," Erdoğan said.

"We hope that the value of the hand extended by the People's Alliance will be properly understood by its addressees."

The president urged all political parties represented in parliament to embrace the spirit of unity.

During his speech, Erdoğan also slammed Israel over its ongoing military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

"Israel is a Zionist terrorist organization," he said. "History will never forgive those who applaud the monster responsible for the blood of tens of thousands of Palestinian children, women, civilians."