CHP calls on PM Davutoğlu to probe corruption claims

ANKARA

CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu speaks to his parliamentary group. AA Photo

The leader of Turkey’s main opposition party has renewed his call for the prime minister to launch an effective probe into the corruption claims engulfing former government officials, after the authenticity of leaked recordings presented as evidence was verified by forensic reports.

“We knew they were genuine. International organizations we applied to also proved this. Now, the forensic reports tell the same thing. There was no montage or fabrication in them. They wanted to cover up [corruption] cases despite the facts,” Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu told his parliamentary group on Nov. 18. 

A forensic report on the corruption case opened last year has stated that the deciphered documents and tape recordings of telephone conversations between the high-profile suspects are consistent. Four former ministers resigned after being accused of corruption as part of Dec. 17 corruption case launched by prosecutors, which the government is accused of covering up. 

Kılıçdaroğlu claimed that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was picked for his post in late August after assuring President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that he would take all necessary measures to cover up the claims.

“You are an academic. You say you are faithful and honest. You should make the best of your position and investigate these claims until the very end. You have no more room to delay this process. The only thing you have to do is deal with these cases,” he said.

The CHP head vowed to give all his support to Davutoğlu if the prime minister decides to take the fight against corruption seriously, investigate corruption claims, and protect the country’s resources. Recalling that Davutoğlu had pledged a global fight against corruption at last weekend’s G-20 summit in Australia and heralded a “comprehensive anti-corruption package,” Kılıçdaroğlu said this work should start by probing domestic claims.

“Be sure, you’ll gain respect if you do so. Everyone will praise you and will call you real patriot. Don’t be afraid,” he added.

CHP appreciates Davutoğlu’s advisor

Meanwhile, the CHP leader also expressed appreciation for Ethem Mahçupyan, one of the prime minister’s newly appointed advisors, over his recent remarks suggesting that nearly half of religious believers in Turkey believed the authenticity of corruption claims.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate Mahçupyan. The greatest sin is to exploit the rights of the poor,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

‘Foreign involvement in Kurdish process is wrong’

Kılıçdaroğlu also touched on the government’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the Kurdish peace process, again underlining the CHP’s position the process should be conducted under the roof of Parliament. 

Arguing that state institutions are not properly functioning in southeastern Turkey and that the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, will be given a “secretariat” to carry out talks, Kılıçdaroğlu complained that Parliament was being sidelined.

“This should be resolved at Parliament. Parliament is being sidelined. Nothing is known with regard to the process … There is now a talk about a third eye, but if you were to ever carry this process to the international level it will get totally out of control. Don’t ever fall into this trap,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, referring to recent suggestions that an international third party could be brought in to assist the talks.