AKP, CHP call for joint stance against terrorism

ANKARA

CİHAN photo

The leaders of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP) have echoed each other in calling separately for a joint and firm stance against terrorism amid a spiral of violence in the country.

Describing the matter as the country’s “biggest problem,” CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on all party leaders in Turkey to “come together against terrorism.”

“Politicians who ask for votes from the people to find solutions should immediately come together for a solution to the country’s biggest problem,” Kılıçdaroğlu said via his Twitter account on Aug. 10.

The CHP leader’s message came just hours before he was set to meet the AKP leader, incumbent Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, in order to discuss earlier exploratory talks between respective delegations aimed at forming a coalition government after the AKP lost its parliamentary majority in the June 7 election, forcing the party to seek a partner.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s message also came hours after Davutoğlu called on all political parties to take a common stance in calling on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms as tension has escalated amid rising terrorist attacks and security operations across Turkey. Scores of soldiers, policemen and militants have been killed over the last two weeks as a result of attacks carried out by the PKK, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).

“I call on all political party leaders to embrace public order, democracy and take a common stance on the issue of laying down arms,” the prime minister said on his Twitter account late on Aug. 9.

At the meeting with Kılıçdaroğlu, he will discuss these issues along with that of a potential government partnership, Davutoğlu said.

“Now, I call on all political leaders to take a common stance on public order, protecting democracy and laying down arms. Tomorrow, during our meeting with Mr. @kilicdarogluk, we will also consult on these issues other than the government partnership,” Davutoğlu said.

The meeting between the two leaders was scheduled to take place following a cabinet meeting chaired by Davutoğlu and during which the AKP ministers would discuss the CHP’s conditions on government policies. 

The party leaders will meet with the attendance of Haluk Koç from the CHP and Ömer Çelik from the AKP.

Preliminary talks for coalition are now over and the situation is now critical, Özgür Özel, a deputy parliamentary group chair of the CHP, told reporters on Aug. 10 before the meeting.

In the coming stages, parties will either start talks on a coalition protocol or will move on their own path in line with their position, Özel said.

The deadline for forming a government is Aug. 23. The president can call an early election if a government cannot be formed within 45 days after the party leader receives the official mandate from the head of state.

“We are not expecting a proposal from the AKP because our position is very clear. We have put forth our own proposal,” Özel told reporters. “If the AKP says ‘yes’ to our 14 principles and five main titles, then it can proceed more seriously by putting it on paper. If it has not drawn close to the CHP’s principles, then the CHP is the last party who will be worried about an early election.”