CHP and AKP trade barbs over claims of Erdoğan’s relatives’ off-shore accounts

ANKARA

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu could reveal further information regarding explosive accusations that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s relatives have stashed away money in off-shore tax havens, CHP Deputy Group Chair Özgür Özel has said.

“Tomorrow we should all listen very carefully to Kılıçdaroğlu’s address at the CHP group meeting, setting aside other plans for that day,” Özel wrote on his official Twitter account on Nov. 27.

His post came after Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ slammed Kılıçdaroğlu for accusing Erdoğan’s close circle of stashing cash in off-shore tax-havens.

“If you fail to produce the relevant document or information it means you are a disreputable, ignoble, vile slanderer,” Bozdağ said on Nov. 27, referring to Kılıçdaroğlu’s accusations that Erdoğan’s close circle had deposited money in off-shore tax havens.

Revelations in the Paradise Papers had exposed Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım’s sons as the owners of multiple companies based in the tax haven of Malta.

“Erdoğan, I will ask you a simple question: Do you know that your children, your brother-in-law, your father-in-law, your brother, and your former executive assistant have deposited millions of U.S. dollars with a company based in off-shore tax-havens?” Kılıçdaroğlu said on Nov. 21, referring to a specific company without citing its name.

In response, Erdoğan blasted Kılıçdaroğlu, demanding that he reveal the documents to prove his accusations.

“If Tayyip Erdoğan has a single penny abroad, he should prove it. If proven, I will not stay in this presidential post for even one minute,” he said on Nov. 26.

“In which off-shore bank does Tayyip Erdoğan have an account? Prove it. If you cannot prove it, you yourself will have to quit politics. If you do, I will quit politics and my post in the presidency,” he added.

Erdoğan also said his lawyers had filed a legal complaint against Kılıçdaroğlu, demanding non-pecuniary damages worth 1.5 million Turkish Liras.

The president’s lawyers filed the complaint against the CHP head on Nov. 24 and Bozdağ also challenged Kılıçdaroğlu to prove his accusations.

“Nobody should commit a character assassination by questioning another’s reputation, dignity and honor,” he said.