Responding to Akşener, Kılıçdaroğlu says no place for Erdoğan’s language in alliance

Responding to Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, “Political games, impoliteness, and Erdoğan's language should have no place in our alliance.” Previously, Akşener signaled that her party is parting ways with the main opposition Nation Alliance after not agreeing on Kılıçdaroğlu's presidential candidate.

Saturday March 04 2023 01:38 pm

Duvar English

After Good Party (İYİ) leader Meral Akşener’s signal to depart from the main opposition Nation Alliance, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said everyone is welcomed in their alliance and they will continue to include every citizen in their policies.

Kılıçdaroğlu released a video statement from his Twitter account and said they have a historical responsibility.

Soframızı büyütmeye devam edeceğiz. Sabırla… pic.twitter.com/ODEUblmWO1
— Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (@kilicdarogluk) March 3, 2023

“Our (other) partners have never made statements that can harm the alliance. I have never seen any of them trying to steal votes from within the alliance,” he added.

Referring to Akşener’s statements, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “Political games, impoliteness, and Erdoğan's language should have no place in our alliance.” Symbolizing the alliance as a table, he stated that no one should leave the table.

“Therefore, my colleagues in my party nor I will allow any tension. We will not be a tool of political games and will continue to act responsibly. We will not leave anyone behind. All citizens of Turkey will be invited to our table. Our people should not worry. We will defeat Erdoğan and Erdoğan's propaganda machine," Kılıçdaroğlu added.

His remarks came after Akşener publicly rejected Kılıçdaroğlu's presidential candidacy despite other parties in the alliance agreed upon him, saying his candidacy is being imposed on the İYİ Party.

Akşener said she was supporting CHP mayors İmamoğlu and Yavaş as candidates amid polls that indicate they could perform better against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

"İYİ Party has been forced to an imposition in a grabbing way, and forced to make a choice between death and malaria," Akşener said, referring to Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu.

She called Yavaş and İmamoğlu to take on the role and nominate themselves, but both mayors once again announced their support for CHP leader.

CHP, İYİ Party, Felicity Party (SP) and Democrat Party (DP) founded the Nation Alliance prior to the 2018 elections. Later, Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party and Future Party joined the alliance.