Opposition has polluted Turkish Parliament: President Erdoğan
ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) of “polluting the parliament” after 15 deputies quit the CHP to join the newly founded İYİ (Good) Party and help it set up a parliamentary group.
“On June 24, my nation, my citizens will give a suitable response to those who polluted parliament. The solution is the ballot box,” Erdoğan said, referring to the snap poll date, at an April 23 reception held at parliament to mark National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.
“Your so-called 15 deputies are leaving your party and they are joining the İYİ Party,” said Erdoğan.
Some 15 deputies from the CHP joined the İYİ Party on April 22 to ensure that the latter is capable of participating in the elections on June 24. İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener has already declared that she will run for president against Erdoğan.
Erdoğan also compared the move to the “Güneş Motel incident” in 1977, when 12 lawmakers from the Justice Party (AP) were convinced to join the CHP following a secret meeting at a motel in Istanbul. With this support, then CHP leader Bülent Ecevit formed a cabinet, giving 10 seats to those new entrants.
The Turkish Parliament on April 20 passed a bill calling for early elections, with 386 lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties supporting the move.
In an April 2017 referendum, Turkish voters approved a bill switching Turkey from a parliamentary system to a presidential one.
Under the changes, the number of lawmakers in parliament will be increased to 600 from 550, presidential and parliamentary elections will be held every five years, and presidents can retain ties to their political party.
The post of the prime minister will be abolished once the new cabinet chaired by the newly elected president has been founded.
