Opposition parties are plotting against government, PM says

Sefa Özkaya – ISTANBUL

Turkish Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ahmet Davutoglu speaks during a campaign rally in Istanbul on June 2, 2015. AFP Photo

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu accused the three primary opposition party of plotting against the government ahead of the June 7 general elections, speaking at a rally in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district on June 2. 

“They are planning plots and traps to prevent us behind the curtains while we are meeting with people,” said Davutoğlu, referring to the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). 

“The CHP, the MHP and the HDP are in contact behind the curtain. The HDP says they can join a coalition with the CHP [after the elections]. The peace process will continue even with the MHP, it says. The CHP, however, makes a pass at the HDP by saying that they will abolish the Diyanet [Religious Affairs Directorate]. The HDP says they will abolish [the Diyanet], too. Will you allow all these things to happen?” asked Davutoğlu during his speech.

Davutoğlu did not elaborate on what he believed to be the role of an opposition outside of opposing the government.

“The parallel gang [Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen’s movement] is behind them, it is organizing them with revenge. There is such a scene that they are all together. You hit Pennsylvania [where Gülen lives], the response is coming from the CHP. You hit the CHP; the response is coming from the HDP. You hit the HDP; the response is coming from the MHP. They have all become a front against the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP,” said Davutoğlu. 

The prime minister also reiterated his accusations against the opposition parties over their alleged cooperation with illegal groups against the government. 

“There are three legal parties and there are the parallel structure, Pennsylvania, Kandil [referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) senior figures, who live in Kandil mountains] and the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) which support them. Are you going to say ‘no’ to this six-gang?” said Davutoğlu, claiming that the opposition parties were receiving support from the illegal organizations as part of their election campaigns.