Ruling AKP opts to limit criticism of main opposition CHP’s ‘justice march’ for now

Nuray Babacan – ANKARA

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has decided to limit its criticism of the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) “justice march” in the coming period. 

At a recent AKP Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the “justice march” was on the agenda and it was decided that critical statements targeting the CHP will be limited to senior AKP executives. 

The CHP started its “justice march” after its Istanbul deputy Enis Berberoğlu was sentenced to 25 years in jail for “revealing state secrets” on June 14 in a case into Syria-bound trucks of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT).

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and party members are planning to march from the capital Ankara to Istanbul’s Maltepe prison in a bid to draw attention to Berberoğlu’s arrest. 

According to AKP party sources, the government has been discussing its strategy in response to the march, deciding that it will not forcibly prevent the march unless a problem regarding “public safety and order” surfaces. There will be no interference by the security forces if “illegal groups” do not take part in the march, they said.

AKP members also discussed the appropriate attitude and discourse that will be used in the process, adopting a “wait and see” approach and deciding to closely monitor developments regarding the march and develop its position in line with how the events unfold. 

The party is also currently evaluating the public’s perception of the march through polls and will respond accordingly.