CHP presidential candidate says he wants to speak about projects instead of getting involved in rows

MANİSA

Muharrem İnce, the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) presidential candidate, has urged all candidates to focus on projects rather than engaging in a war of words.

“I will not be a president shouting. Your children will receive good education in schools. The children of CHP supporters will not attend separate schools. Our children will study together in state schools. When we fix the education system, the children of AKP supporters will also attend good schools. I do not want to get into altercations. I want to tell you about my projects. I want to speak about the future. I want to education your children well. I want your children to be able to find jobs,” İnce said on May 13 in the Aegean province of Manisa.

“I want to embrace the entire Turkish nation. I will be the president of AKP supporters, not just CHP supporters when I’m elected, God willing,” he said.

İnce also vowed to bring peace to Turkey.

“His [President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s] project is Kanal Istanbul, my project is peace. Peace will come to this country,” he added.

The Kanal Istanbul megaproject seeks to build a Bosphorus-like channel cutting through Istanbul’s European side to boost naval traffic from the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea, effectively turning the European side of Istanbul into an island.

He said Turkey’s economy is also in an alarming state.

“Turkey’s economy has set alarm bells ringing. Inflation rate in developed countries is at around three percent, but in Turkey this figure is 11 percent,” he said.

Earlier in the day, İnce paid a visit to a cemetery in Manisa’s Soma district to pay respects to 301 miners killed in Turkey’s deadliest mine disaster four years ago.

Some 301 mine workers were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning on May 13, 2014 after an explosion at the mine.

“We will work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of the mothers of the victims. It has been four years, but the incident is still unresolved. It is a sin that there hasn’t been any compensation. The government can find money for everything, but cannot find money for Soma? I promise we will recover, we will grow economically and we will share the money fairly,” he said.