CHP files motion for investigation of party leader Kılıçdaroğlu’s financial assets

ANKARA

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has submitted a motion requesting a parliamentary investigation into the financial assets of CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his family members, after a brawl at Turkey’s parliament late on Dec. 11.

“Those who practice clean politics are never afraid of giving an account. They never refrain from proving to the public that they are frank and always give a public account a political and personal responsibility,” read the motion submitted by the CHP to the Parliamentary Speaker’s Office on Dec. 11.

The motion came after CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu called for an investigation into he and his family’s financial records following accusations from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“I am calling from here to CHP lawmakers, file a motion to investigate my family, children, grandchildren, son-in-law and even my children’s parents’ in-law. Let’s investigate them all,” Kılıçdaroğlu said on Dec. 11 during budget talks in parliament.

The discussion was initiated after the CHP has criticized the suspension of a CHP Istanbul Ataşehir District Mayor Battal İlgezdi. İlgezdi was suspended by the Interior Ministry on Dec. 8 over corruption allegations.

“They are apparently trying to intimidate us. But there is no way you can scare us,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in front of the Ataşehir Municipality building on Dec. 9, adding that İlgezdi was previously acquitted of corruption charges.

“We have no further account to give. Our mayor previously applied to the prosecutor’s office asking for an investigation to be carried out following media reports and at my own request. He was acquitted in the subsequent investigations. What is happening now is an attempted character assassination. They want to intimidate us but we won’t give up,” he also said.

The Interior Ministry released a statement shortly after Kılıçdaroğlu’s speech, stating that the decision to suspend İlgezdi was “made in an objective manner.”

“Our ministry made its decision regarding Ataşehir Municipality officials in line with objective legal rules, justice and rights, as it does for all municipalities,” the ministry stated on Dec. 9.

It was reported that the ministry’s report on İlgezdi had included the daughter of CHP leader, Zeynep Kılıçdaroğlu, accusing her of purchasing a luxury apartment for a cheaper price than its market value.

Kılıçdaroğlu slammed the accusations, calling for an investigation on his family.

“If you can find five cents, or even a cent, I will come to this chair and apologize. But I want to address these gentlemen in Ankara. Can you show the courage I displayed?” he said, referring to AKP officials.

He then covertly turned his attention to Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, accusing him of being “renegade.”

“Those who become the aides of an oppressor are renegades,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

After the CHP leader’s speech a brawl erupted at parliament later the same day, after AKP Deputy Chair Mehmet Muş devoted his entire speech to accusations against dismissed CHP Mayor İlgezdi.

After CHP Group Chair Engin Altay quoted the former acquittals of İlgezdi in previous investigations and criticized the suspension of İlgezdi, Interior Minister Soylu took the floor and defended the ministry’s decision.

As CHP deputies shouted “renegade,” referring to the minister, CHP and AKP deputies traded blows in parliament’s General Assembly.

The brawl ended after the parliamentary speaker adjourned the assembly meeting.