CHP leader vows to resolve Kurdish issue transparently

ANKARA

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Turkey’s main opposition social democrat leader sounded convinced that his party would resolve the decades-old Kurdish issue through transparency, as he said the existing government-led resolution process has been run “behind closed doors.”

“We will resolve this problem. You should be sincere and honest for resolving this problem. This doesn’t exist. You should not have a personal agenda and you should not get involved in engagements of which you cannot give account. We don’t know what is being said behind closed doors. You should give information to the parliament and the nation,” Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said on April 20 in an interview with NTV news channel. 

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu over the weekend said two pages on the Kurdish peace bid in the ruling party’s election manifesto where lost while it was on its way to the printing press.

“If it is something like that, then it is very fatal. If it is dropped from the election manifesto and if you could not be able to explain your views regarding this fundamental problem and its solution, then why are you occupying the Prime Ministry seat?” Kılıçdaroğlu said, in response to the incident.

The opposition leader also reiterated his party’s objection to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s desire for an executive presidential system – a desire backed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. 

“In addition to legislative, executive and judicial branches powers, media is the fourth power. If the process of checks and balances is built very well, then the parliamentary system is strong. This parliament fought the National War of Independence and put its signature under many achievements,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

The AKP and Erdoğan, who founded it in 2001, argue that an executive presidency would accelerate decision making in Turkey, while critics argue it would fuel what they see as his growing authoritarianism.