CHP: Turkish PM Erdoğan to stand before judges one day

ANKARA

‘I’m asking Erdoğan. When this report was put on your desk, did you talk to your ministers about [the involvement] of their sons? No, he can’t have done. Why? Because he is the one who instructs them,’ CHP leader says. AA photo

The prime minister will stand before judges over corruption claims, on the day when clean politics prevail in the country, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has vowed.

“He [Erdoğan] says, ‘I would judge the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors [HSYK], if I had the authority.’ But he can’t have such an authority, he can’t judge. Judges do this. Will you stand before these judges one day? Yes, you will stand when clean politics prevail in this country,” Kılıçdaroğlu told his Republican People’s Party (CHP) parliamentary group meeting on Jan. 7. 

He described the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as a “completely corrupt” party that has failed to keep its promises in the fight against corruption. “For the very first time in the history of the Turkish Republic, a prime minister is defending corruption and bribery,” Kılıçdaroğlu said. 

The CHP head recalled that the prime minister was notified by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) on April 18, 2013 that his economy and interior ministers were involved in controversial relations with Rıza Zarrab, questioning Erdoğan’s inaction over his ministers’ “dark ties.”

“I’m asking Erdoğan. When this report was put on your desk, did you talk to your ministers about these ties, about [the involvement] of their sons? No, he can’t have done. Why? Because he is the one who instructs them. He is the leader of the gang,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, claiming that the actual size of total corruption was as high as $247 billion. 

Also criticizing Erdoğan for violating judicial independence for his recent statement, “we’ll stand against the judiciary as the executive,” Kılıçdaroğlu addressed President Abdullah Gül, who is the head of the executive according to the Constitution. 

“As the head of the executive, do you also agree with this statement? Will you also stand against the judiciary? It’s OK if you will, but if not, you should tell [the government] not to intervene in the independence of the judiciary,” he said. 

Kılıçdaroğlu also slammed Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek, who issued a statement last week deploring the “end of judicial independence,” on the grounds of frequent violations of Article 138 of the Constitution, which guarantees judicial independence. 

“He said, ‘Article 138 has collapsed.’ Good morning after supper. If I say this he [Erdoğan] will say ‘the main opposition leader is arguing.’ But it isn’t me, it’s what the speaker of Parliament himself says. If the principle of separation of powers has collapsed, than the state has collapsed too,” the CHP head stated.