Main opposition CHP labels PM Davutoğlu as ‘his master’s voice’

ANKARA

CHP Deputy Chair Faruk Loğoğlu

Leading figures of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) have said new Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is “his master’s voice,” suggesting that he will only fulfill whatever President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan orders.

“President Erdoğan regards Davutoğlu as his loyal friend and expects him to do whatever he wants. Davutoğlu is the voice of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Prime Ministry seat,” CHP Deputy Chair Faruk Loğoğlu said at a press conference Sept. 1.

Loğoğlu said there are particular reasons why Davutoğlu has been chosen as the prime minister "despite all of his unsuccessful policies," claiming that Davutoğlu was selected because Erdoğan considers him to be “his most loyal partner in the fight against the parallel structure.”

“Davutoğlu promised President Erdoğan he will give a hard time to the parallel structure, which is the Justice and Development Party’s [AKP] bogeyman,” he argued, referring to the AKP’s ongoing fight against the alleged “parallel structure,” which it says has attempted to topple the elected government.

For his part, speaking at a separate press conference, CHP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Akif Hamzaçebi said Davutoğlu had shown no ability to take an independent stance when he had the chance to do so.

“Davutoğlu is transparent; he is like tulle, like shadow. When you look at him, you don’t see him; you see Erdoğan. He has a broken toy in his hand, which he calls ‘Strategic Depth.’ He has put his own will under Erdoğan’s order,” Hamzaçebi, said, referring to Davutoğlu’s book published in 2001, “Strategic Depth.”