CHP leader rejects president’s ‘terrorism’ accusation

ANKARA

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has rejected President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent suggestion that he is acting “in line with terror organizations,” saying the president himself should open a legal case against him.

“I am asking a very clear and loud question to you, Mr. Erdoğan. Have you aided and abetted terrorist organizations? I know very well that you have done. So now sue me. Tell the authorities that Kılıçdaroğlu is accusing you of bedding and abetting terrorist organizations. Why don’t you do so?” Kılıçdaroğlu said in an interview with the Sputnik website on Sept. 14.

“I will be tried in front of your judges. I will give all necessary documents to those judges. If you have the courage to do so, come on. There is no point in shouting in front of the public,” the CHP leader added. 

“Why are you talking about me? Morning, noon and night it is about Kılıçdaroğlu. Fine. But if you are talking so much about me why do you not have the courage to confront me? Are you afraid of my questions?” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

He also criticized Erdoğan’s recent comments on the CHP’s stance on terrorism.

Kılıçdaroğlu had pledged that if the main opposition came to power he would “finish the terror issue in four years,” to which the president objected.

“He said ‘Kılıçdaroğlu, who are you?’ Let me tell you. I am the person who you are afraid of appearing on TV with,” he said, reiterating his earlier call for President Erdoğan to debate him face-to-face on TV.

“I will tell you how I will reinstate peace in this country. And you will listen,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

“I heard that Erdoğan said he is ‘ready to fight’ and I understood that meant he had agreed to appear on TV. Our fight is a fight for democracy,” the CHP leader added.