CHP leader calls on all politicians to announce forex accounts

ANKARA

The head of Turkey’s main opposition party has called on all politicians, especially political leaders, to reveal their wealth in either Turkish Lira or foreign currency, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s request that Turkish citizens convert their foreign exchange into liras or gold could not exclude anyone. 

“Mr. Prime Minister has said Turkey is not doing anything with the dollar, while almost all transactions, from bridge tolls to natural gas or oil imports, are made on the dollar basis. Even tradesmen rent their stores in malls in dollars or euros. Mr. President has called on people to convert their dollars into lira … We have been wondering if our citizens have dollars in their pockets amid economic problems … I am calling on all political leaders to announce their wealth here. Who is storing their money in liras or in dollars? Who has confidence in the lira or not? We could learn like this. I do not keep my money in dollars; the president of this country does. He is keeping this money at Albaratürk,” Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said in a parliamentary session that kicked off budget talks on Dec. 5. 

Upon Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said Erdoğan converted his money into liras, showing the bank receipt in the parliament. 

CHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Özgür Özel then asked for a copy of the receipt and questioned when the transaction was made. Bozdağ, however, did not give the receipt.