I will lift state of emergency day after elections if elected: Meral Akşener
ANKARA
If elected, İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener promised on May 18 “to lift Turkey’s state of emergency the day after the snap elections.”
“The state of emergency will be lifted the day after I’m elected,” Akşener said, addressing thousands who had gathered for a weekly airing of broadcaster Halk TV’s interview program.
“I will find a trustworthy logistics firm,” she said, declaring her objectives set to be accomplished on June 24 if she gets elected in the snap polls.
“I will move back all historic objects taken to the palace from the Çankaya Mansion and that belong to this nation and the state,” said the presidential candidate.
“Then, reconstruction will begin,” said Akşener.
Turkey’s long-time ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) opened Beştepe Presidential Palace in Ankara in a contentious move on Oct. 29, 2016—transferring historic Çankaya Palace to the prime minister, which she vowed to change and more.
Akşener also vowed she would cancel the privatization of Turkey’s sugar factories on her first day in office. This is another contentious topic that has led to the protesting of factory workers in the streets since its announcement late February.
“We will remove [the Supreme Council of Education],” she promised.
“We will launch a program to give unemployment wages to the youth,” she added, declaring her economic promises.
The presidential candidate also said 80 percent of the debts of citizens and students with low wages would be erased through certain criteria, while the remaining debt would be paid with deferred payments up to 10 years.
Furthermore, Akşener vowed to reopen the military high schools, including the Kuleli and Maltepe schools in Istanbul, and Işıklar in the northeastern province of Bursa, which were all shut down as part of the measures taken in the country following the deadly coup attempt of July 15, 2016 and which were deemed as protective measures taken for the security of the country.
She also said she would like to dismiss the legislation that proposes the separation of universities.
Akşener said she has traveled through 61 cities in the course of six months since launching the İYİ Party on Oct. 25, 3017 and promised to reinstall the parliamentarian system back in the country.
The presidential elections that will be held on June 24 will be critical for Turkey as the executive presidential system approved by the constitutional amendments will be fully in effect after the president is elected.
On May 5, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), İYİ Party, Felicity Party (SP) and Democrat Party signed a declaration marking a four-way election alliance called the “Nation Alliance,” pledging to “remove polarization, instill independence of the judiciary and ensure basic rights and freedoms.” The AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have also formed what they call a “People’s Alliance” and are jointly supporting Erdoğan in the election.
Akşener vowed on May 18 that she and her party would support any presidential runner against Erdoğan on June 24.
“I am the only person [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] is afraid of,” she said, showing evidence that her rallies are not broadcasted on Turkish media providers.
“Erdoğan chooses his opponents. He then frames them and then kicks them out,” said the candidate.
“There is only one candidate who does not fit that action plan and that is Meral Akşener,” she added.
