CHP leader emphasizes economic promises at rally

AFYONKARAHİSAR - Doğan News Agency

Cihan Photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu highlighted his party’s economy-focused election promises during a meeting in Turkey’s western province of Afyon, where he also accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of making the rich even richer over nearly 13 years of rule.

Speaking at an election rally in Afyon, Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized the economic practices the CHP will implement if they are elected as the ruling party in the June 7 general elections. 

“There is money when it comes to the palace [the presidential palace built in Ankara for around 1.37 billion Turkish Liras ($615 million)]. There is 5.5 billion U.S. Dollars for 2 million Syrians … [They ask] Where will you find the money when it comes to the workers? I will cut the corruption and will find the money,” said Kılıçdaroğlu, adding he would erase 80 percent of the interest on the debt of some five million individuals.
 
“I have calculated it … The burden of this to the state is zero,” he said. 

Kılıçdaroğlu claimed the ruling AKP had increased the number of poor people in the country over the last 13 years they have been in power, adding that while the Turkish population’s one percent had owned 39 percent of the country’s entire wealth, by 2014 this number had increased to 54 percent. 

“I will reduce that source of 54 [percent] to 39 [percent]. I will distribute wealth on this basis,” Kılıçdaroğlu said. Currently 6.2 million people were unemployed and 17 million citizens were living in poor economic conditions due to the bad economic policies of AKP, he said. 

Kılıçdaroğlu also vowed to eliminate the sub-contractor system within the state.