PodcastOur republic is taken hostage by gov't, CHP leader says in statement marking Republic Day
CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said that the Turkish Republic is "taken hostage by a political understanding that aims to rule poverty instead of defeating it." According to the CHP leader, the republic must be the solution to Turkey's problems. "In sum, the republic is to build a country that we all live in peace together," he said.
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Our republic is taken hostage by a political understanding that aims to rule poverty instead of defeating it, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader said in a written statement released to mark Oct. 29 Republic Day.
"Our republic is not fully managing to support those in need. We are facing a republic that has been taken hostage by a political understanding that aims to rule poverty rather than beating it," Kılıçdaroğlu said, adding that "we don't have the right to be hopeless."
"Those who founded the republic didn't succumb to hopelessness. We don't have the right to do so as well," he said.
Turkey on Oct. 29 marks the 97th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
On Oct. 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country's founding father, officially declared the name of the nation and proclaimed the country's status as a republic.
Turkey marks 97th anniversary of Republic DayKılıçdaroğlu also criticized the government over various issues, including unemployment, violence against women, nepotism, injustice, the election threshold, branding critics "terrorists" and freedom of speech.
According to the CHP leader, the republic must be the solution to Turkey's problems.
"In sum, the republic is to build a country that we all live in peace together," he said, adding that the centenary of the Turkish Republic is in three years.
"Our duty is to crown the Republic with democracy. I have no doubt that our people will vote for it in the next elections," Kılıçdaroğlu said, referring to the elections scheduled to be held in 2023.