CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu proposes lowering the electoral threshold to 3 percent

* Photo: Mehmet Ali Özkan - Ankara / AA

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Speaking at the weekly group meeting of his party in Ankara today (March 15), main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu talked about the police violence against physicians who wanted to mark the Doctor's Day in Taksim Square yesterday.

He said, "We have been going through such a period that doctors, who have spent years for people's health, were not even allowed to do it when they wanted to lay wreaths on the Atatürk statue on Doctor's Day".

At this point, CHP's Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also addressed President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who previously stated that "physicians might leave as they wish as Turkey would carry on with newly graduated doctors".

Kılıçdaroğlu said, "When several young physicians went abroad, he said, 'They may leave as they like'. We are the ones to send you away by democratic means. They will all stay in their country".

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Speaking to physicians, he added, "Don't worry; you will get your all rights. I know that the promises given to you have not been kept. It has come to such a point that they are forcing you to go abroad. Don't. You will stay and we will send [them] away together. We will send away this gentleman by people's will and with a flourish of trumpets. Everyone will be a witness to this".

'Lower the electoral threshold to 3 percent'

CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also talked about the legislative proposal jointly prepared by the ruling AKP and its ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), foreseeing amendments to the Election Law.

According to the law draft, the ruling People's Alliance is poised to lower the electoral threshold in Turkey from 10 to 7 percent.

Arguing that "they know very well that they will leave", Kılıçdaroğlu indicated that "their aim is not to amend the election law so that people's will is better represented at the Parliament, but to protect their seats".

"The nation has made up its mind, it will send you off," said Kılıçdaroğlu, recommending that "the electoral threshold should be 3 percent so that the national will is reflected at the Parliament." According to the CHP Chair, "there are fears that the MHP cannot pass the threshold".

He said, "Politics is not done for a party or position. No power condemns you to that seat; don't worry, we will send you off nicely".

Signed by the opposition parties CHP, İYİ Party, Felicity Party (SP), Democrat Party (DP), Future Party and DEVA Party on February 28, 2022, the "Memorandum of Understanding on Reinforced Parliamentary System" also undertakes to reduce the electoral threshold to 3 percent. (AS/SD)