Erdoğan boasts about gov’t not discriminating CHP voters in quake zone

President Erdoğan has boasted about his government not discriminating CHP voters in the earthquake region in terms of providing aid efforts. "We have not said this or that place is CHP (has mostly CHP voters). We have said, ‘They are also our homeland, they are also our citizens,’” Erdoğan said during a ceremony in the quake-hit İskenderun.

Friday March 24 2023 10:50 pm

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has boasted about his government not discriminating earthquake victims based on the party they voted for.

Erdoğan made the remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of houses and hospitals in the quake-hit Hatay province’s İskenderun district on March 24.

“As we have so far kept our every promise to our nation, as we have compensated for the losses, we will again do the same this time. No one should have doubts. We have not said this or that place is CHP (has mostly CHP voters). We have said, ‘They are also our homeland, they are also our citizens.’ The only thing we can’t do is bringing back the deceased. We have the power to compensate for every other loss. The rest will come on its own,” Erdoğan said.

Erdoğan also targeted the CHP’s 11 metropolitan municipalities, claiming that they have not sent any aid or any of their personnel to the earthquake region. “The main opposition (CHP) has 11 metropolitan municipalities. Where are those municipalities? Has a single one of them stopped by here (earthquake region)?” Erdoğan said.

Once again utilizing his classical discourse of linking the opposition with terrorism, Erdoğan said: “Are we ready for (elections) May 14? Are we ready to give the necessary lesson to those marching in arms with the terror organization? Are we ready to give the necessary lesson to those taking our children from the lap of their mothers and abducting them to (PKK's base) Qandil (mountains)? I want you to trust us because of this, to stand by us.”

It is very frequent of Erdoğan to tie the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), especially during times when he needs votes. During campaigning, he also accuses the CHP of supporting terrorism due to its collaboration with the HDP to unseat the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the elections scheduled for May 14.