CHP has confidence in its leader on pledge to 'end terror' in Turkey: Spokesperson

ANKARA

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has confidence in party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s vow to “finish the terror issue in four years,” CHP spokesperson Bülent Tezcan said, amid criticism from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over Kılıçdaroğlu’s words.

“We weren’t expecting Erdoğan - who entered office 15 years ago amid zero terrorism but oversaw a terrorist organization becoming powerful enough to stage a coup - to understand our attempt to finish terror in four years,” Tezcan said on Sept. 13 after the CHP’s Central Executive Board Meeting. 

“If he has confidence in himself, we also have confidence. He can come onto a TV program and discuss it with us,” he added. 

Tezcan’s comments came after Erdoğan blasted Kılıçdaroğlu for saying the main opposition is capable of putting an end to the “terror issue” in Turkey in four years. 

“Who are you to say you will finish it,” Erdoğan said on Sept. 13. 

“Just saying that is not enough,” he added, accusing Kılıçdaroğlu of “acting alongside terrorist organizations” in the Justice March from Ankara to Istanbul started in July, which he initiated as a protest against Turkey’s recent justice record. 

Tezcan slammed Erdoğan for being responsible for the country’s grave current security problems. 

“Differentiating citizens from terrorists is a duty of the state. We will do what you haven’t done in 15 years in four years. Because we would not sit at the table with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK] and we will not hand our country over to terrorist organizations,” he said, referring to the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, an ally turned nemesis of the government.


‘CHP does not acknowledge KRG referendum’ 

Tezcan also stated that the main opposition will not recognize the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) referendum on independence, scheduled to be held on Sept. 25. 

“The government has not been able to display a determined stance against the north Iraqi referendum. Protecting the territorial integrity of the Iraq is a must. This referendum is not legitimate and we do not recognize it,” he said. 

“We expect the government to make a clear statement about it and take the necessary attitude,” he added.