One man’s ego dragging Turkey to re-election: CHP

Şükrü Küçükşahin - ANKARA

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Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has accused President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of egotistically “violating democracy” with his push for new polls, while heaping scorn on both PM Ahmet Davutoğlu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli for staying silent on the development. 

“May God be my witness, I did my best,” the CHP leader told daily Hürriyet. He accused Erdoğan of “resuming terrorism so that he could impose a presidential system.” 

The president wants to inculcate the sense that without him, the country cannot survive, Kılıçdaroğlu said.

If Turkey goes to new elections, the CHP will reap the biggest advantage, according to Kılıçdaroğlu. 

Ultimately, the election is just an exercise to satisfy Erdoğan’s ego, Kılıçdaroğlu said.

“They are going to elections, but they also seek a partner at the same time. What they seek is a partner for the project that Erdoğan is imposing,” he said.

Kılıçdaroğlu is critical of Bahçeli and Davutoğlu for not speaking out against Erdoğan because the president did not give the mandate to the CHP to form a government.

“This means support for one who is violating democracy,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

“If he believes in the nation’s will, then the nation rejected the presidential system. He does not believe in the nation’s will. He is putting pressure on the nation. He wants to dictate his own will by creating terror,” the CHP leader said. 

Erdoğan has protected his children from military service, but says “how happy for those families” when the children of the poor die as soldiers, Kılıçdaroğlu said.

“But you have never sought that happiness. Why are you running away [from martyrdom]?” he said.

Erdoğan only pays lip service to patriotism, the CHP leader said, noting that the president might do anything for his own interests. 

Kılıçdaroğlu also accused Erdoğan of conspiring against the army, citing court cases against the commanders of the Turkish military.

The CHP head also said all his moves since the June 7 elections were for the sake of the country, adding that he did not have any motivations borne of personal interests.

As such, he pursued talks with everyone, only for Erdoğan to exert pressure and undermine the process.

Kılıçdaroğlu also said he expected Davutoğlu to criticize Erdoğan for not giving the mandate to the second party following the elections. 

“Davutoğlu would have made this call if believes in democracy. Bahçeli also should have made this call,” he said.