President, CHP leader exchange words on ‘blood’ politics

ANKARA

The exchange of words between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on “blood” in politics has continued, with the head of state responding to the latter’s accusations. 

“He alleges that we are feeding on blood. We are feeding on people,” Erdoğan said in an event in Istanbul on May 15, while accusing CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of using “flagrant” words against him. 

“If there is anybody feeding on blood, it’s you as the CHP, which set the stage for the execution of [former Prime Minister Adnan] Menderes and two friends of his in 1960,” Erdoğan added.

Kılıçdaroğlu on May 14 repeated his comments that the sort of presidential system proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) could not be realized without “spilling blood,” as he accused Erdoğan of feeding on blood. 

“I’m saying the same thing once again. We will use our democratic rights all the way. It’s in your traditions to spill blood. Aren’t tens of people dying every day? Erdoğan is a person who feeds on blood,” said Kılıçdaroğlu, in a speech in the eastern province of Van, referring to ongoing security operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

“They are dividing and separating people,” Kılıçdaroğlu added. 

Erdoğan also commented on the sympathizers of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, saying the Gülen movement harmed the youth the most.

“The movement, which engaged itself in secretly organizing in the state, did the most harm to the young people,” he said, adding people shouldn’t be deceived by this “treason gang.”

“There are the ones whose base is worship, center is trade and ceiling is treason. Don’t be with the ones who rented their minds and don’t allow your conscience to be pledged,” Erdoğan also said. 

Meanwhile, two soldiers died and eight others were wounded in clashes between Turkish security forces and PKK militants in the Dağlıca district of the southeastern province of Hakkari on May 14 and 15. 

Gendarmerie Specialized Sgt. İhsan Mert was killed when PKK militants opened fire at around 7:15 a.m., while the wounded soldiers were taken to hospital.

Six PKK militants were killed in the clashes that erupted on May 15, according to the Turkish General Staff.