Kılıçdaroğlu adds to row over presidency

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

The presidency is not private property to offer to others, Kılıçdaroğlu says. DHA photo

It is wrong to involve the presidency in useless discussions, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said in a statement about the recent debate ignited by Ahmet Sever over the 2014 presidential elections. 

“I expect our esteemed president to leave office at the end of his fifth year, in compliance with the changes to the Constitution, and without causing any debate. He could be a candidate for the presidency a second time, if he wishes,” Kılıçdaroğlu said. 

Kılıçdaroğlu answered questions related to the debate on an NTV television program. 

“The presidency is not anyone’s private property. It is not a thing to be offered as if it were private property. This constitutes contempt for the public and the national will. ‘You leave and I will be in office, I’ll go and you’ll take office, let’s exchange the duties.’ It is not that simple. What age are [they] living in? The presidency is not private property to offer to others. How can such a perception exist? Can we call it democracy? How can you bargain with the presidency while talking about public and national will? The presidency is a position everyone must respect; it is not property that can be owned, offered or bargained. Only the national will can determine who will take up this position,” CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu said.