CHP submits parliamentary motion against interior minister over ‘threatening and insulting’ remarks

ANKARA

Turkey’s main opposition party Republican People’s Party (CHP) has submitted a parliamentary motion against Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu over his “threatening and insulting” remarks targeting CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

CHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chairs Engin Altay, Özgür Özel and Engin Özkoç submitted the petition to parliament on Dec. 13 on the grounds that Soylu threatened Kılıçdaroğlu at a public address last week.

“I speak openly: Kılıçdaroğlu, you are finished,” Soylu said at a public rally, after which Kılıçdaroğlu filed a criminal complaint against Soylu and demanded compensation worth 100,000 Turkish Liras.

The CHP’s petition said Soylu’s remarks exceeded the boundaries of political criticism.

“It’s not correct for a minister who has armed forces under his control to insult and threaten. In this regard, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu did not fulfill his responsibility as a minister and instead resorted to mafia-like methods,” it read.