Turkey’s main opposition unveils election manifesto

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on May 26 unveiled his party’s election manifesto, which vowed to find solutions to “five main problems of Turkey.”

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu read out his party’s 230-page declaration, prepared under the slogan “We are coming for the nation,” in the capital Ankara.

He also introduced the CHP candidates running for parliament in the June 24 early elections.

According to Kılıçdaroğlu, “the five main problems” that need an “urgent solution” are justice, education, economy, social peace and foreign policy.

“Turkey wants peace, not fighting. Turkey wants freedom, not autocracy. Turkey wants democracy, not a one-man regime,” he said.

In the manifesto, the party pledges to lift the state of emergency on priority basis and to establish an independent, impartial and fair justice system.

During his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu indicated the party would find a solution to the issues in the country’s economy, which he described as “one of the most basic problematic fields of Turkey.”

“The net minimum wage will be 2,200 Turkish Liras [$467] and without taxes,” he said.

“The lowest pension will be 1,500 liras ($318),” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

The party also promised to set up new ministries such as Human Resources, Women and Tradesmen Ministries.

According to Kılıçdaroğlu, his party also plans to establish a new foundation to design Turkey’s future. He announced the name of the foundation as “Human Development Strategies and Information Policy Institution,” where the country’s most prestigious scientists would work.

‘Peace at home’

Kılıçdaroğlu said foreign policy would be implemented under the motto “Peace at home, peace in the world.”

“We will live in peace with all our neighbors,” he said.

The CHP leader also announced his party would establish an “Organization of Middle East Peace and Cooperation.”

“The founders of this organization will be Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. These four states will live in peace,” said Kılıçdaroğlu.

He also pledged to lift visa restrictions on Palestinians.

The CHP’s official campaign slogan is “We are coming for the nation,” while the party uses the slogan “President for all of us” in its election campaign.

Last April, the parliament passed a bill for early elections on June 24, cementing Turkey’s move to a presidential system. In the April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters had approved the switch from a parliamentary system to a presidential one.