Turkish PM Erdoğan pressured daily to fire a headscarved columnist, CHP leader says

MUĞLA / ORDU

DHA Photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over leaked audio recordings of telephone calls, in which the prime minister allegedly pressures the editor-in-chief of a pro-government daily to fire a headscarved columnist over her writings.

He referred to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a “dictator” and said “lying” was one of the characteristics of dictators.

“I am addressing all women. A dictator, who engages in politics over your headscarves, could not tolerate a headscarved woman writing her column and caused her to lose her job.” Kılıçdaroğlu said, stressing that the CHP would not use the headscarf to score political points.

Kılıçdaroğlu continued to target the government over corruption claims on March 18 during an election rally in the southwestern province of Muğla, asking why four ministers resigned if the claims were “just slander.”

“If these [claims] were just slander, what is the watch worth 700,000 Turkish Liras on the minister’s arm?” Kılıçdaroğlu said March 18 during an election rally in the southwestern province of Muğla, calling on citizens to vote using their hearts.

Kılıçdaroğlu further accused Erdoğan of “dividing the nation,” calling on people not to fight and instead remain peaceful, despite the prime minister’s attempts at provocation.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli attended a rally in the Black Sea province of Ordu. Bahçeli criticized the government and called on his supporters to use “the power of the vote” in the March 30 elections.