CHP Minister Denounces AKP Criticism as “Shameless” Following Trustee Appointment to Istanbul Branch
ANKARA – A CHP Minister sharply condemned recent attacks from the AKP, notably questioning the party’s patriotism, calling the criticism a “shameless explanation.” The response came following remarks questioning the CHP’s presence at September 9th commemorations and the appointment of a trustee to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency.
The Minister stated, “The Republican People’s Party is currently under the siege of the government. The Republican People’s Party is fighting everywhere with the power of judiciary in the hands of the judiciary.” They further criticized the AKP for allegedly utilizing public law enforcement in a “total attack” on the CHP while concurrently seeking to undermine court decisions. Specifically, the Minister referenced the trustee appointed to Istanbul and attempts to pursue similar actions on September 15th.
“We collide in all these areas, you will question our patriotism and nationalism. You say there is no existence in Izmir on september 9… We are here once on September 9 and I am here on behalf of Mr. President. I attended the funeral of the martyr, then I attended this ceremony,” the Minister recounted. They vehemently defended the CHP’s nationalistic credentials, contrasting their lineage with past figures.
“Why not? These men have already been a sultan who has already ruled Abdulhamid for 33 years, who had ruled this country for 33 years, abolished the Constitutional Monarchy, who went after him, glorifies the Ottoman grandson and adopted the values of the Republic. On the other hand, Vahdettin, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s great Nutuk’un ‘traitor’ called, British armored riding and escaping Vahdettin’i defending the people, today ‘Where were you on September 9’ he says.”
The Minister also condemned a press release questioning the CHP’s participation in the September 9th march, stating, “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s name will not come out of the sound of the sound, hospitals, government offices ‘TC’ writings will not come out of the sound, the oath will not come out of the sound will not come out, then the first time you came to the 9 September march, the Republican People’s Party, we will criticize such a struggle under such a siege.”
Regarding the appointment of Gürsel Tekin as a trustee to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, the Minister urged a reversal of the decision. “A Republican People’s party, no Republican People’s Party, the AKP’s politicized judiciary can not be part of the operation to the Republican People’s party. If he loves the country, he worked as a Secretary General in the Republican People’s Party, served as a deputy, and if he had a little conscience, he will take the task of a trustee and return it to the court.”
