CHP ignored warnings about montage video during election campaign

It has come to light that the main opposition CHP’s party management ignored the warnings of the campaign team about the montage video depicting as if PKK executives were singing Kılıçdaroğlu’s election song and that it was spreading rapidly on social media, online news outlet Diken reported.

Wednesday July 19 2023 03:51 pm

Duvar English

Main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) management team ignored the warnings of the campaign team about the montage video against party leader and presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during the election campaign, Altan Sancar from online news outlet Diken reported on July 17.

Displayed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan himself at rallies despite knowing that it was fabricated, the video in question depicted as if executives of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were singing the main opposition Nation Alliance's presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s campaign song.

Accordingly, CHP’s campaign team found that the video had a “risk of reaching millions of people” on social media and informed the political cadre of the CHP that “the videos are spreading rapidly.”

The campaign team also suggested that the party's known faces should criticize the video by using harsh words, insulting if necessary.

However, according to the reporting, the political cadre said “We will do what needs to be done after winning the election.”

After Erdoğan displayed the video on various occasions, the CHP filed a criminal complaint against the video after about 20 days it was started to be circulated.

Erdoğan on May 7 displayed the montage video in question for the first time during a rally held in Istanbul.

Speaking during a live broadcast on state-run TRT, Erdoğan on May 22 said “The CHP leader relied on the PKK terrorist organization. Kılıçdaroğlu has video shoots with those in Kandil. (PKK executives sang Kılıçdaroğlu's song). Doesn't matter if it's a montage or not. PKK members supported (the opposition) with videos.”

During the election campaign the ruling People’s Alliance executives and Erdoğan have accused the opposition of “collaborating with the terrorist organizations and their political affiliations” in order to gain more votes in the elections.