CHP slams president over holiday review

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

A group of students perform during May 19 celebrations. The President’s Office has confirmed that work is under way to ‘update’ the fashion in which holidays are celebrated.

The main opposition party denounced an initiative by President Abdullah Gül to review the celebration of national holidays as a drive by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to erode Turkey’s secular tradition and the legacy of its founding father. 

“The shameful acts of the AKP, its cheating of citizens and taking revenge on the republic is now being called an update,” Deputy Chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Birgül Ayman Güler said in a written statement yesterday. 

“We all know that this is not an update. This is an attempt to discredit and wipe off what is left behind from Atatürk.”

The President’s Office has confirmed that work is under way to “update” the fashion in which national holidays are celebrated. 

It has said the objective was to ensure the April 23, May 19 and Aug. 30 holidays would be celebrated more by the people they were dedicated to, while Republic Day on Oct. 29 would be marked “with the participation of larger masses with more comprehensive and lavish festivities.” 
The issue has sparked controversy following an Education Ministry decision to scale down May 19 celebrations.