Nov. 1 polls will clear problems created by June 7 elections: Erdoğan

ANKARA

AA photo

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he believed early elections on Nov. 1 would “clear up the problems created by the June 7” parliamentary election. 

“The will of the nation is important. The parliament could not solve this problem. Then, the nation will resolve [it],” Erdoğan said on Aug. 26, addressing a group of village governors. 

As Turkey “forms a government of stability, the country will enter 2016 with morale and with economic growth,” he added. 

Elaborating on accusations Erdoğan hampered the formation of a coalition government, the president blamed the opposition for “trying to hide their own mistakes and for deliberately weakening Turkey.”

“None of the criticisms expressed against me regarding this process reflect the truth. Those who are unable to present to the nation convincing and correct solutions, I mean, in real terms, those who can’t do politics, try to avoid their responsibilities by targeting myself,” he said.

The president said opposition parties always mention him in their statements. “But I won’t be the one standing for election,” he stated. 

“Those accusing me for the renewal of the elections, they are seeking to hide their own misdemeanors,” Erdoğan said. 

“Anyway I don’t have this kind of warrant, this kind of opportunity. But I won’t allow those trying with this oriental cunning to take advantage [of the situation] while they could not take the support of this nation,” he stated.

Erdoğan suggested it appeared some individuals couldn’t put up with the strengthening of the country during this period. 

“They appeared inside and outside [of Turkey]. There are some circles trying hard to put this discrimination on Turkey. That’s why I believe that to prevent this, Nov. 1 will be an election between stability and instability,” he said.

PKK should lay down arms, not state

Referring to the Kurdish peace process, Erdoğan said it was the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which destroyed the process.

He also criticized the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), accusing the party of aiming to divide the country. The HDP displayed the Turkish flag in some of it is electoral campaign promotions, but it was just a move for “White Turks,” he said, referring to secular liberal voters. 

“The police and soldiers of the state don’t lay down arms,” the president said, stressing it should be the PKK who should “bury arms or leave the country.”