‘How can a prime minister shield thieves?’ CHP leader asks

ISTANBUL

The leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu hails his supporters along with his pick for Istanbul mayoral race, Mustafa Sarıgül.AA photo

Main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has asked how a prime minister could defend “thieves,” vowing that his Republican People’s Party (CHP) would bring clean politics to Turkey.

“It is the first time in the history of the Turkish Republic that a prime minister defends those who are implicated in corruption. How can someone who defends thieves be a prime minister? Turkey needs clean and honest politics,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, blasting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his stance on an ongoing graft scandal during the inauguration of the CHP’s new Istanbul headquarters Dec. 29. 

“You are going to [steal], all your family is feathering their nest; then you will trick the people. We will not allow that,” Kılıçdaroğlu said during the event, which was also attended by the CHP’s candidate for the Istanbul mayoral post, Mustafa Sarıgül. 

Kılıçdaroğlu called on “devout citizens” to refuse to vote for a party involved in corruption, while reiterating his call on Erdoğan and the four former ministers implicated in the graft probe to make public their assets.

“If he can’t make it public, he won’t be able to be cherished by this country. He cannot be described as an honest politician,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, emphasizing that Istanbul was a huge source of corruption.

“They have fed themselves from Istanbul. [Preventing them from siphoning off money] is in the hand of Istanbulites. Make the biggest contribution to your country,” he said. 

Ahead of the inauguration ceremony, Kılıçdaroğlu was welcomed by a crowd of supporters on his arrival at Istanbul’s Atatürk airport Dec. 29, two days after thousands were deployed in support of Erdoğan at a rally in the country’s main airport.

Sarıgül, together with many prominent CHP figures, were also among those who greeted Kılıçdaroğlu at the airport.