Turkey has become ‘money laundering center of Europe,’ main opposition leader says

ANKARA

Turkey has become the biggest money laundering center in Europe, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said, slamming the government for allowing vast flows of illegitimate cash into the country.

“Corruption, drugs, prostitution, money … You can launder [money] in Turkey whenever you want. The name of these dollars is clearly ‘error and omission,’” Kılıçdaroğlu said, addressing his party group at parliament on May 23.

The CHP leader slammed government for allowing the inflow of unregistered money that paves the way for money laundering.

“You issued the laws, you brought it about. You have acquitted bribery and now Turkey is one of the biggest money laundering countries in Europe,” he said.

Operation against newspapers

Kılıçdaroğlu also blasted the recent police operation against daily Sözcü and ongoing pressure on daily Cumhuriyet, two newspapers critical of the government, arguing that the prosecutors are trying to link the cases with the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, an ally turned nemesis of the government.

“You can neither silence Cumhuriyet nor Sözcü. They have found a [Fethullahist Terrorist Organization] FETÖ prosecutor for Cumhuriyet. They cannot open a case, the file is empty. But they have finally been able to find a prosecutor,” he said.

“They are looking for a FETÖ link, if you are looking for a FETÖ member, look in the cabinet ministers, look into the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP parliamentary group, look into the Presidential Palace,” Kılıçdaroğlu added.

Manchester attack

The CHP leader also condemned the suicide attack at a concert hall in Manchester which claimed at least 22 lives.

“We hereby express our deepest sympathies and condolences to England and the English people. I hope that terror will be wiped off the face of the world,” he said.

“Whether it is in England, or in Turkey, or anywhere else in the world, terror is a crime against humanity and we have a responsibility to stand against it,” Kılıçdaroğlu added.

“Whoever it has come from, wherever it has come from, whatever its aim, all people together should stand against terror no matter what. There cannot be any reasonable grounds for terror,” he said.