Turkish president invites deputy prime minister to discuss unrest

ISTANBUL

"Democracy is not just about elections," Turkish President Abdullah Gül said. DHA photo

President Abdullah Gül has invited Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç to the presidential palace for a meeting about the ongoing protests in Turkey, at a time when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is on a visit to Morocco. The meeting between Gül and Arınç is set to take place at 10.30 a.m on June 4.

Gül also reportedly invited Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, according to sources.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met with President Abdullah Gül earlier today to share his concerns about the week-long protests across the country, criticizing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s attitude on the issue.

Democracy is not just about elections, Gül said earlier today in response to the ongoing Gezi Park protests, adding that the message was received by authorities.

President Gül intervened on June 1 to stop the police crackdown in Taksim, urging “sensitivity and maturity” to calm the five-day-long tensions down.