Turkey’s main opposition head denounces ‘negative propaganda campaign’ against party

İZMİR

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu speaks in İzmir, Dec. 1. AA Photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has pledged to rule the country better than the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) if the CHP comes to power, denouncing a “negative propaganda campaign” against his party.

“[The AKP] is pursuing negative propaganda. [It is saying] ‘If CHP comes to power, it can’t rule the country; the dollar will rise; citizens won’t be able to pay their debts.’ I am calling out to the 77 million [Turkish citizens], we will rule better and healthier than this. We will focus on Turkey’s problems and we will be held accountable to the nation for every penny,” said Kılıçdaroğlu at the CHP’s regional meeting in the Aegean province of İzmir on Dec. 1.

He also accused former Environment and Urbanization Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar of not following up his own words on corruption allegations, in which Bayraktar had said then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had ordered him to do the alleged illegal actions.

“Erdoğan Bayraktar is saying ‘I am innocent.’ If you are innocent, didn’t you say ‘the prime minister gave the orders, he’s the one who should resign, not me?’ Why are you prevaricating? It would be more appropriate to stand [behind your words] like a man,” said Kılıçdaroğlu.

After testifying at the parliamentary commission probe into corruption allegations against four former ministers on the grounds that they received bribes, Bayraktar defended himself against allegations that led to his resignation from his ministry post.

He said that conversations included in the 61 released wiretap recordings proved his innocence, adding that if he were guilty, he would need to be tried before the Supreme Council.