CHP leader questions PM over fear of media

ISTANBUL

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (R) in a press conference with former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica (L) on Nov. 6, 2015. Cihan Photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu asked the Justice and Development Party (AKP) why it “fears” free media, adding that an “understanding of silencing media is dominating the AKP government” at the moment. 

“Why are you afraid of the media,” the CHP leader asked the AKP-majority government, speaking at a meeting with former Uruguayan President Jose Mujica on Nov. 6.

If anyone is not happy with the news covered, they can ignore it, he said, calling the government’s attempt to silence the media one of Turkey’s most basic problems. 

Kılıçdaroğlu also said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu played the “good cop” on state TV programs, meanwhile columnists were accused and media patrons were threatened at certain media outlets.

Kılıçdaroğlu called on Prime Minister Davutoğlu to respond.

“Are you with this discourse or do you stand with your statement on the balcony?” he asked, referring Davutoğlu’s post-election balcony speech on late Nov. 1 where he promised reconciliation with all parts of society. 

“A media army that cannot criticize government will spell trouble. If the media is not free, if the news channels of society is chocked, there will be no room for democracy in that country,” he stated.