CHP head says it would be 'valuable' for Akşener to become prime minister

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said that it would be "valuable" for İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener to become the prime minister, noting that the opposition was in agreement over a return to a parliamentary system following the 2023 elections.

Monday October 04 2021 12:26 pm

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said on Oct. 3 that his party was appreciative of Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener’s prime ministerial candidacy.

Akşener said on Sept. 24 that she wasn't interested in running as a presidential candidate, but that she was putting herself forth as a potential prime minister, implying a return to a parliamentary system of government.

Kılıçdaroğlu said that Akşener’s statement should be respected by all, adding that his party was keen on re-implementing a strengthened parliamentary system as soon as possible.

"So it would be extremely valuable for Ms. Akşener to take up the position of the prime minister at the end of this transition process, but these are not matters that have been discussed within the alliance," Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Founded by the CHP, İYİ Party, Felicity Party (Saadet) and Democrat Party (DP), the Nation Alliance is yet to discuss a mutual presidential candidate, Kılıçdaroğlu told reporters at the end of a three-day workshop held by the main opposition over the weekend.

However, opposition parties eyeing a return to a parliamentary system have been working together to create a report to explain to the public their expectation from a new system, Kılıçdaroğlu added.

"The existing system has brought Turkey into disaster," the main opposition leader said. "We want the executive branch to be held accountable by the public and parliament."

Kılıçdaroğlu will be meeting with Felicity Party leader Temel Karamollaoğlu on Oct. 11, he said, adding that they've already come to agreements with former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's Future Party and former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan's Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) about a return to parliamentary government.

The main opposition is also open to working with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Kılıçdaroğlu said, backing statements he made a few weeks ago that indicated the CHP was willing to work with the HDP on finding a solution to the Kurdish issue.

"They stated clearly that they weren't interested in becoming part of an alliance. But their support for democracy and their allocation of parliament as key to the Kurdish issue are valuable," Kılıçdaroğlu added.