Probe launched into CHP chair’s ‘spilling blood’ remarks

ANKARA

The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the May 11 remarks of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who argued the sort of presidential system proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) could not be realized without “spilling blood.” 

Reports indicated the public prosecutor’s office in Ankara launched the investigation on its own motion, considering reports of Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks as notification.

The investigation will be led by the Bureau on Investigating Parliamentary Crimes, under Article 214 of the Turkish Criminal Code on “inciting to commit a crime.”

 “You can’t bring in such a presidential system without spilling blood,” Kılıçdaroğlu had said in a speech to the general assembly of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) in Ankara on May 11, while discussing efforts to form a new constitution. 

“The current constitution states that the judiciary is independent and impartial. It says that no post or authority can give orders or instructions to the judiciary. If we are to write a new constitution, we will write the same things,” he added. 

Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks created a backlash from the ruling AKP, with the party’s Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Bülent Turan accusing the CHP head of calling for a “civil war” and Economy Minister Mustafa Elitaş claiming that he was plotting a “military coup.” 

“We are curious to see what Kılıçdaroğlu will do. Will he execute deputies who support the presidential system? Will he round them up in gas chambers like the Nazis?” Elitaş asked, saying “only the nation” could decide on any political system change.

“Our nation is adequately foresighted, they will not be frightened by Kılıçdaroğlu’s civil war threats,” he added, slamming the CHP leader as a “political corpse.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also slammed Kılıçdaroğlu, saying his statement constitute a “betrayal to the parliament,” while speaking at a meeting in the capital Ankara.

“Spilling blood is the work of dictators, tyrants, murderers and sometimes of lunatics. I leave it to the nation to decide which category the person who leads the main opposition falls under,” Erdoğan said.