Opposition leaders call for an urgent snap election in Turkey

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu visited İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener at the İYİ Party Central Office in the capital city of Ankara yesterday (November 17).

Amid further depreciation of the Turkish Lira ahead of the Central Bank's Monetary Policy Committee meeting today, Kılıçdaroğlu announced that he and Akşener would meet at 4 pm "upon the urgency on the agenda" and that they would also hold a joint press conference.

CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu was accompanied by CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Engin Altay, CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Böke and CHP Vice Chair Ahmet Akın. The opposition leaders addressed the reporters following the meeting that continued for an hour.

'You cannot govern the country'

CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu argued that elections should be held in Turkey as soon as possible. Referring to the financial hardships recently faced by several segments of the society, from shopkeepers to farmers, from pensioners to civil servants and workers, the CHP Chair underlined that "every day of delay in holding the elections increases the costs for society."

Raising concerns about the recent price increases, he said, "We are making a call with a political mindset that loves our country and its people and embraces it as our duty to make efforts to solve the problems in a short time: You cannot govern the county; it is a pity. Call elections as soon as possible, let a new government come into office and govern the country properly."

'No solution other than elections'

İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener also expressed her agreement with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's call for an urgent snap election in Turkey.

"There is no solution other than elections," said Akşener: "The end is near now. I read the report on further destruction, poverty, impoverishment and education submitted to the Education Policies Commission and sent to me by a fellow expert. Impoverishment alongside poverty..."

Akşener announced that she and Kılıçdaroğlu decided that the economy officials of their parties meet and work together.

Erdoğan met MHP's Bahçeli

Earlier in the day, President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

While different statements were expected from the two regarding the obligation to receive "50+1 percent" of votes to be elected the President, no statement was made after the 45-minute meeting.

MHP's Bahçeli reportedly gave a "Turkish world" carpet as a gift to Erdoğan during the meeting. (KÖ/SD)