CHP calls for elections as ‘the government is unable to solve Turkey’s problems’

* Photo and news: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu spoke at the CHP group meeting yesterday (February 22).

The family of Gülistan Doku, who went missing in Dersim on January 5, 2020, also attended the CHP's Parliamentary weekly group meeting.

Referring to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu argued that the government is unable to solve the problems of the country; on the contrary, it causes new problems:

"If political power holders are unable to solve the problem, there is one thing that they should do: To bring in the ballot box.

"It will be only then democracy will be well-established in Turkey in the true sense of the term and citizens will go and make their choice.

"One should not be afraid of citizens' choice. It is generally said, 'But, sir, they will never go away.' What do you mean by 'they will never go away'? We will send them away with the will of the nation."

Speaking about Gülistan Doku as well, Kılıçdaroğlu stressed that the reasons behind the failure to find her should be clarified.

'Turkey has problems about democracy'

Arguing that "there are several problems about democracy in Turkey", CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, "You all know that there is no democracy in Turkey. There are crumbles of it left, but apart from them, we all know that democracy has been suspended in Turkey."

Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized that the rulings of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) are not implemented and the fundamental human rights decisions, rules and principles stipulated in the Constitution are not put into practice, either.

Indicating that "the feeling of revenge rather than the law" comes to the fore in this process, CHP's Kılıçdaroğlu also referred to the continued imprisonment of journalist Sedef Kabaş for "insulting the President" as well as that of businessperson and rights advocate Osman Kavala and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş:

"If someone criticizes a political power holder and if the dosage of this criticism is somewhat high, we are faced with this person's detention, arrest and imprisonment for months. Sedef Kabaş is one of them. As there is no law in the country, Sedef Kabaş is held behind bars.

"Is she the only one? No. Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, military students... It is also the case for them. We all know these."

Russia-Ukraine tension

Further in his speech, CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu also talked about the recently escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which has decided to recognize two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine:

"We don't want a war in our region. Our history tells of the cruelty of war the best. It is ingrained in memories under what conditions the national war of independence was won. Therefore, we all know that a war in the region will inflict great harm on Turkey. It has to be the joint request of not only ours but that of the entire world to call on the parties to act with commonsense.

"If such a war breaks out, Turkey is one of the countries which will come to the greates harm." (AÖ/SD)