CHP will continue its fight against corruption, even in coalition: CHP leader

ANKARA

Cihan Photo

The decision to form a coalition with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) will not mean his party will drop its fight against corruption, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said.

“Something such as not addressing corruption in the case of a coalition government with the AKP is out of the question,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in an interview with Turkish daily newspaper Sözcü.

“To not address corruption and not call for accountability would be like closing down the CHP. We will of course address corruption,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in the interview, published on July 20, as AKP leader Ahmet Davutoğlu is expected to hold a second round of talks with party leaders this week to continue the coalition-making process. 

“We will investigate every claim and every incident concerning the 13-year long AKP rule. There should be no hesitation and concern regarding this,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, in an apparent reference to the now-dropped Dec. 17 and 25, 2013 massive corruption cases, which embroiled four former ministers and their relatives.

“This tradition must be settled in our political culture: Whoever involved in corruption needs to withdraw from the political stage,” the CHP leader added.