Turkey's main opposition says won’t attend event marking foiled coup, cites removal of speeches

ANKARA

CHP lawmakers criticize the lack of their pictures in a special photo album - DHA photo

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has said that they won’t attend a special meeting organized to mark the first year anniversary of the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt, citing the removal of party leaders’ speeches from the program. 

Changes were made in the program on July 15 and Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be giving speeches only. 

CHP lawmakers also criticized the lack of their pictures in a July 15 photo album distributed in the parliament.
The main opposition’s decision was asked to Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, who said that “it’s the party’s own decision.”

“They change their minds five times a day,” Yıldırım told journalists, referring to previous statements made by CHP on attending the meeting. 

CHP spokesperson Bülent Tezcan replied to Yıldırım’s comments, saying that it’s “Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman who changes his mind every five minutes.”