Turkish main opposition leader backs Davutoğlu's call on investigating assets

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has backed a call by former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu regarding the formation of a parliamentary commission to investigate assets of all presidents and prime ministers.

"It's a beautiful and appropriate call," Kılıçdaroğlu told daily Sözcü on Dec. 9, as he also commented on the rift between Davutoğlu and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The rift between Erdoğan and Davutoğlu stemmed from the ongoing problems between Turkey’s state-owned Halkbank and private Şehir University, of which Davutoğlu was among the founders, regarding the university’s land.

Halkbank took the university to court due to its inability to pay the loans it received back, prompting authorities to freeze the assets of Şehir University.

The incident occurred amid efforts to found a new party by Davutoğlu, who worked with Erdoğan between 2003 and 2016.

In response to Erdoğan's allegations of fraud regarding the land, Davutoğlu urged the establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the assets and the changes in assets of all presidents, prime ministers, ministers in charge of public banks, authorities who served in the privatization high council and their first and second degree relatives.

While supporting Davutoğlu's call, Kılıçdaroğlu said that the move would mean taking a stand against the U.S. House of Representatives.

"If Erdoğan says 'Yes' to this and the parliament fulfills its duty in line with this purpose, Turkey would be taking a stand against the U.S. House of Representatives by saying, 'We are carrying out investigations, not you,'" he said.

"This is necessary in order for clean politics and clearing politics of dirt. The people also expect this," Kılıçdaroğlu added.

Saying that Erdoğan is showing disrespect to universities via leading a political dispute over universities, Kılıçdaroğlu asked whether the President would react the same way if Davutoğlu, his latest opponent, wasn't among the founders of the university.

"Seizing of a university via a bank through taking advantage of its financial troubles is not right. The problem should be solved within the boundaries of law," he also said.