Turkish PM says he never instructed intel agency to probe political parties

ANKARA

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Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has once again rejected the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader's claims that the intelligence agency conspired against the CHP, underlining that he never instructed the agency to work against any political party. 

“Our National Intelligence Organization [MİT], as a whole, is in the service of the people. I never instructed it to take a position against any party or group. Its stated ethics do not allow it to do so either; instead it does its job concerning external and internal security issues,” Davutoğlu said on Nov. 25 during a parliamentary group meeting.

He announced he would give a more detailed answer to the claims made by CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who accused the MİT last week of plotting against his party. However, Davutoğlu said the claims were linked to allegations that the Fethullah Gülen movement, which has been dubbed by the government as the “parallel structure” within the state, attempted to plot against MİT chief Hakan Fidan in February 2012.

“Whoever was behind the operation against the MİT on Feb. 7 is now in cooperation with the CHP. We will not sacrifice our MİT or any other of our institutions to such cooperation,” the prime minister added.

Davutoğlu was elected as the head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in late August to replace Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who became the country’s 12th president in polls in early August.

Erdoğan ruled the country as prime minister for nearly 12 years, during which time he brought MİT under his control. Erdoğan has also rejected Kılıçdaroğlu’s claims, labeling them attempts to discredit the success of the intelligence organization.