Turkey has too many MPs, according to CHP's Kılıçdaroğlu

Photo: AA

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has promised to reduce the number of seats in the parliament when they come to power.

"What do 600 lawmakers do? Why is 450 [lawmakers] not enough for you? We will reduce the number of lawmakers [in parliament]," he told his party's parliamentary group yesterday (March 16).

CHP lawmakers hold 136 seats in the 600-seat Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

The number of seats in the parliament was increased from 550 to 600 after the country switched to the presidential government system following the 2017 referendum.

Kılıçdaroğlu also criticized the government's recent economic reform package, saying that it was simply a copy of the 23 previous packages announced by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) during its 19-year rule.

The reform plan was a confession by the AKP that it caused the economy to collapse, he asserted.

"Everyone should know this. There is no issue in Turkey that cannot be resolved. It is possible to bring peace, abundance and unity to Turkey, but there is only one way for this: the Republican People's Party," he further said.

Kılıçdaroğlu said they would embrace all people in Turkey during their leadership term, "regardless of their views, identity, beliefs or lifestyle."

"We are dedicated to solving the issues [of all of our citizens]...and we will solve them," he said. (AÖ/VK)