Gov't slammed Biden's past remarks now since it waited for opposition to react first: Presidential aide

Duvar English

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun has responded to criticism on why the Turkish government responded to U.S. Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden's past remarks on backing the opposition so late, saying that it waited for the opposition to respond first.

"They are asking, 'Why did you wait for seven months [to respond]?' We waited for you," Altun tweeted on Aug. 18 about Biden's remarks that were recorded on Dec. 16, 2019 and published in July.

"We both knew about that speech. We spoke about it. Why were you silent?" Altun asked, although the government and the opposition slammed Biden simultaneously.

Biden's comments to New York Times editors, where he advocated a new U.S. approach to the "autocrat" President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and support for opposition parties, resurfaced in a video that made him the most popular topic on Twitter in Turkey on Aug. 15.

Biden, the former U.S. vice president, says in the video recorded on Dec. 16 2019 - before he emerged as the Democratic candidate - that he is "very concerned" about Erdoğan's approach to Kurds in Turkey, his partial military cooperation with Russia, and access to U.S. airfields in the country, a NATO ally.

Altun also accused the opposition of siding with Biden and said that it seeks to see Erdoğan fall from power in any way possible.

"We should reveal why the opposition was silent for all this time. What we're facing here is an 'Erdoğan must leave no matter how' syndrome. Our call is for you to respect the nation's will," he added.