Erdoğan on swearing at Gezi protesters: 'Sometimes I have to use strong words'

Photo: AA

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday (June 5) addressed his party members in the capital city of Ankara after a three-day "consultation and evaluation meeting."

"By eliminating the question marks and resentments in our minds, we can prepare for 2023 [elections] much stronger," the president said.

"Sometimes, we have to use stronger words while continuing our struggle," he said, apparently referring to the language he used against the Gezi Park protesters.

Last week, on the anniversary of the countrywide protests against his government in 2013, he called the protesters "sluts" and thugs." He defended his words on Saturday, saying that "we use the language of our nation." He also claimed that the protesters "burned down mosques," without providing proof.

The president asserted that those who are against him are against the ideal of a powerful Turkey.

"We will continue to be at the disposal of our nation for many years to come. Those who attack this brother of yours are in fact hostile towards our ideal of a great and powerful Turkey," he remarked.

Calling the opposition parties "puppets," he said, "We are fighting the real war against their bosses." (RT/VK)