Erdoğan rejects snap election calls: 'We are not a tribal state'

Photo: AA

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has refuted reports of early elections in the country, saying they would be held on schedule in June 2023.

"In which developed country of the world is an election held outside the determined time? These are things done by tribal states," said Erdoğan.

He asserted that it was out of the question for the date of the vote to be brought forward.

The president said in a period when there is a process of global restructuring in political and economic terms, "we should use all of our power, energy and time to achieve our goals."

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called for an early election last week.

He stated that seismic research and drilling activities were ongoing and that he would follow the work on board the drilling ship on Saturday.

"As Turkey will advance in democracy and the economy these kinds of issues will eventually completely be out of the agenda," Erdoğan said.

On Turkey's foreign policy moves, Erdoğan stated that Turkey will continue to "stand with the oppressed."

"On the one hand, there is oppression in Libya, we cannot remain silent. In Syria, there is persecution along our 910-kilometer (565-mile) long border. What shall we do? Shall we stay silent? On the other hand, there is persecution in Somalia, should we just watch? You are witnessing the persecution by Armenians in Azerbaijan. These are our brothers, should we just watch?" Erdoğan said.

"We cannot stop, there is a responsibility that our ancestors placed upon us throughout history," he said. (DŞ/VK)