Turkish gov't dismisses opposition leaders' call for urgent early elections amid economic crisis

The AKP has dismissed the opposition's call for urgent early elections, saying that Turkey will head to polls in 2023 as scheduled.

Thursday November 18 2021 11:51 am

Duvar English

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has dismissed the opposition's call for urgent early elections, saying that elections will be held as scheduled.

AKP Group Deputy Chair Bülent Turan responded to the call made on Nov. 17 by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and right-wing Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener, saying that the call does not benefit anyone.

"Early elections are not on Turkey's agenda," Turan said on Twitter on Nov. 17, noting that they will be held as scheduled in 2023.

Türkiye’nin #ErkenSeçim gibi bir gündemi yok. Seçimler zamanında yapılacaktır!

Türkiye, size rağmen, önündeki tüm engelleri aşma iradesine ve kararlılığına sahiptir.

Bu gündeminizin hiç kimseye faydası yok. @kilicdarogluk @meral_aksener !!! https://t.co/3FEKKd7yWN
— Bülent TURAN (@turanbulent) November 17, 2021

"Turkey, despite you, has the determination and will to overcome all obstacles. This agenda of yours don't benefit anyone," he noted.

Kılıçdaroğlu and Akşener, who lead the opposition Nation Alliance, called on the government to head to snap polls, citing the deteriorating Turkish economy.

"You can't manage the economy. You're putting a burden on the people's shoulders. Turkey needs to head to elections as soon as possible," Kılıçdaroğlu said, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's earlier remarks on lowering interest rates.

Both opposition leaders said that CHP and İYİ Party members specialized in economy will carry out meetings to provide solutions to the lira's decline.

The lira is near 11 per dollar on Nov. 18 from below 9.9 lira last week.