Main opposition leader criticizes Turkey's state TV for broadcasting Erdoğan rally during his interview

ANKARA

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Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized the state-run TRT for broadcasting a rally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his scheduled live interview with the TV channel.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks came at a live broadcast on TRT on April 8, where he said he arranged the interview with difficulty by asking Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş. 

The CHP leader said his interview was scheduled to take place at 19.00, but TRT had broadcast Erdoğan’s speech at the same time and delayed Kılıçdaroğlu’s interview to 19.30.

In the interview, he said the incident displays the practice of a “one-man rule,” which the CHP repeatedly warns of if the proposed constitutional amendment passes in the April 16 referendum. 

“The most typical example of a one-man regime has happened this evening. The state broadcaster should remain equal to all parties,” he stressed. 

Speaking about the recent chemical attack on Syria’s Idlib, he said the perpetrators of it should be revealed and punished. 

He urged the Turkish government to conduct more active and determined diplomacy to tell the world about its views, which should bring the perpetrators of the attack to be trialed in international courts.


Charter changes won’t solve any problem 

Speaking at a rally in the Black Sea province of Sinop on April 9, Kılıçdaroğlu said the proposed charter amendments will fail to solve Turkey’s problems. 

“What problems of the country will these constitutional amendments solve?” he said. 

“Will it solve the problem of unemployment? Will it solve tradesmen’s problems? Will it solve farmers’ problem? Will it quell the problem of terrorism? Are there any articles among the amendments to protect the reputation of the state? Then the problem is this: Why are the constitutional amendments being put forward?” he said.