Davutoğlu genuine but Erdoğan blocking coalition government: CHP

ANKARA

AFP Photo

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is blocking efforts by political parties to form a coalition, even though Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu genuinely wants to create a government, according to the head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

“I am saying with all my sincerity: Mr. Davutoğlu really wants to form a government and solve the problems of the country. I sincerely sense it. But the person occupying the presidential seat is not allowing this. He is stirring up trouble,” CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu told private broadcaster Habertürk TV late Aug. 2. 

“Are you the prime minister or the president?” asked Kılıçdaroğlu, referring to Erdoğan’s recent statements allegedly infringing on areas of responsibility of the prime minister.  

“It’s the prime minister who is ruling the country. Let him do his job, let him speak. Why are you talking all the time, day and night? He has arrived at such a point that he has become the source of all problems,” he said. “He’s throwing the country into the fire for his own power, for his position. Have a heart!”

Underlining that Davutoğlu should demonstrate the necessary will for the formation of the government, Kılıçdaroğlu said his party had explicitly announced its principles and was fully ready to shoulder responsibility. 

Kılıçdaroğlu drew attention to a recent rise in terrorist acts in the country and urged all politicians not to engage in politics over the blood of young people. 

“If the purpose is to go to the polls by making politics over blood, then its consequences would be severe. I call on all mothers; your children are our children. Politicians who can’t foresee the future of this country should stop making politics with the blood of your children,” he said. 

Kılıçdaroğlu blamed Erdoğan for abandoning the Kurdish peace process and called on him to explain why the process was discarded.