CHP head accuses politicians of bloodshed in country

ZONGULDAK – Anadolu Agency

CİHAN photo

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has blamed the recent violence between the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and security forces, which have led to the over 200 killings, on  the previous ruling party after the June 7 elections. 

“The country turned into bloodshed after 400 deputies did not come out of the June 7 elections. The people responsible for this are the people governing the country,” said Kılıçdaroğlu during his party’s rally in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak on Oct. 5, in reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statements before the June 7 election, demanding 400 deputies. Though Erdoğan did not openly ask for Justice and Development Party (AKP) votes, his statements made it clear he was in favor of a majority AKP government, of which he is a founding member and prime minister for 12 years. 

“It’s open and clear. Wherever you go around the world, it is the politicians who are responsible for this situation,” added Kılıçdaroğlu. 

Commenting on the peace process, which was launched in the late 2000s by the government to find a resolution to the 30-year-long Kurdish problem, Kılıçdaroğlu said the government had been bogged down in the process. 

Clashes between PKK militants and Turkish security forces renewed after a deadly suicide attack, which killed 33 mostly young people and was allegedly carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), took place in Turkey’s southeast in late July. The clashes ongoing since then have brought an end to the more than two-year-long peace process. In late February, the PKK was expected to hold a congress to decide on the laying down of arms.