Ruling AKP like a coin-operated music box: Main opposition

ANKARA

DHA Photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu resorted to a colorful set of metaphors to condemn the government over corruption claims, describing it as a “coin-operated music box” that is turning Turkey into a country of “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”

“I’m calling on all my citizens, I’m calling on my pious and conservative citizens, don’t forget that the Justice and Development Party [AKP] is like a music box, it plays the music of whoever puts coins in it,” Kılıçdaroğlu said on Jan. 27, addressing his weekly parliamentary group meeting.

“Turkey should not be the country of thieves and corrupt people. They went to Somalia and gave out children’s books as presents: ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.’ Please, there are already enough thieves in Turkey. Here is my promise: I want a four-year mandate. I want a decent and clean four years. I will rescue Turkey from the thieves,” the CHP head said, referring to the corruption claims within the huge Dec. 17, 2013 case that embroiled many high-profile suspects, including former cabinet ministers.

“They say ‘We have become richer.’ Who became richer? You became richer, your children became richer,” Kılıçdaroğlu added, noting that the richest one percent of the Turkish population was getting 54 percent of the total revenue.