CHP leader criticizes government, cites collapse of Ottomans

MALATYA

The Ottoman Empire collapsed because it was no longer capable of producing, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said on March 14, criticizing the government for lacking a development plan over its economy.

“Why did the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire collapse? Because its production collapsed,” Kılıçdaroğlu said at an election campaign meeting in the eastern province of Malatya.

Countries around the world are administrated with development plans prepared for the next 10, 20, 30 or even 50 years, but Turkey has no such plans, he said.

Turkey owes $149 billion to a “handful of loan sharks in London,” he said, not indicating who they are. “The citizens are paying the interest of this loan.”

He said that politics should provide better service to the people.

“Would it not be better if $149 billion were invested in the industry, factories, and for the employment of people? What happened after 17 years? What did you spend these loans on?” he said.

“The government argues that Turkey is growing, but it actually shrunk,” he said.

“Turkey has to make a very important strategic transformation. Firstly we need a strong democracy. Secondly, a country of production. Only a democratic country can produce. Thirdly, we need a strong social state. And fourthly, sustainability,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

The CHP leader said he does not hold rallies but prefers to meet with opinion leaders of the provinces he visits. “Those opinion leaders have a responsibility towards this country. Therefore, their opinions are highly important,” Kılıçdaroğlu stated.

Turkey has serious problems and one major issue is unemployment, he said, noting that almost every house has at least one unemployed resident, with almost a total of seven million people jobless in the country.