Turkish gov't slams main opposition CHP leader for congratulating Biden

Duvar English

The Turkish government has slammed main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu for congratulating Joe Biden for winning the U.S. presidential elections.

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Group Deputy Chair Bülent Turan said that Kılıçdaroğlu was "giving a signal" to Biden.

"Look at the person who didn't once congratulate [President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, who is the president of his own country and won 15 elections! Be like Kılıçdaroğlu when giving a signal!" Turan said in a tweet on Nov. 7.

15 seçim kazanan, kendi ülkesinin başkanı; @RTErdogan ı bir kez bile tebrik etmeyene bak sen!

Sinyal verirken @kilicdarogluk gibi ol!..? https://t.co/urWcPHhPBb

— Bülent TURAN (@turanbulent) November 7, 2020

Kılıçdaroğlu became the first leader in Turkey to congratulate Biden for his victory in the elections, voicing hope that relations between the countries will strengthen.

The government and Erdoğan remain silent, with no congratulatory messages issued while world leaders have been doing so.

Relations between Ankara and Biden soured in August when the president-elect said that a new approach is needed against "autocrat" Erdoğan and voiced support for the opposition.

In addition to harsh criticisms from government ranks, CHP was another party to slam Biden.

“Our democracy and endeavor for freedom do not need any imperialist favors. Independence is our character," CHP spokesperson Faik Öztrak said at the time, while adding that "the opposition would do politics for the sake of Turkish nation, not of foreign political actors."