'The entire state is governed with loyalty to a single person,' says Babacan

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DEVA Party Chair Ali Babacan, also a former Deputy Prime Minister from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), spoke at his party's 1st Ordinary Congress in Ankara today (December 29).

A former Deputy PM responsible for the economy, Babacan mostly focused on the deepening economic crisis in the country.

"There have emerged black holes in every field of economy," said Ali Babacan and added, "The treasury of the state is empty, the central bank does not have any dollar reserves left. Young people are unemployed and, what is sadder than all, they are losing hopes."

Referring to the management of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Turkey, Babacan stated, "Peoples' access to healthcare is getting harder, our people are losing their lives due to imprudence."

"The inferiority of education in state schools leads to a great inequality. Parents are afraid that their children cannot get proper education or they cannot feed them, they are afraid for their future," protested Babacan.

Addressing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government in Turkey, he also underlined that the arbitrary governance of the country based on a single person has been harming Turkey:

"Instead of rule of law, the rule of a person's arbitrary decisions is observed. Human rights and freedoms are trampled upon. Trustees are appointed to municipalities one by one, people's will is disregarded.

"Civil society organizations are put under pressure. The entire state is governed with loyalty to a single person, instead of loyalty to the law.

"Foreign policy is managed by personalized decisions, the prestige of our country in the world is at rock bottom. A country of 84 million is governed by a single person and a narrow group of decision makers." (DŞ/SD)