Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has said a summary of proceedings needs to be prepared about the alleged corruption committed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“We are waiting for a summary of proceedings for Erdoğan. We are looking for a courageous, honest prosecutor who feels a responsibility for his country,” CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said at the party's group parliamentary meeting on Tuesday, a reference to a recent corruption probe in which four ex-Cabinet ministers have been implicated.
Kılıçdaroğlu, who maintained that the government is trying to cover up the allegations, harshly criticized the choice of Monday for the discussion of the summary of proceedings on the four former Cabinet ministers.
Noting that Parliament's television channel is not aired on on Mondays, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “And you [the government] said you are not afraid of the people."
The CHP leader vowed that the party would do its best to call the government to account before the law. “Prosecutors will appear. It is impossible that there will be none. Otherwise, we might as well close down all the law faculties [in universities],” he said.
Noting that it has been nearly five months since the corruption probe became public on Dec. 17 of last year, the CHP leader underlined that the summary of investigations concerning alleged corruption in Adana and İzmir should also be sent to Parliament.
In his speech, the CHP leader recalled that İsmet İnönü, a previous CHP leader and companion to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the years during and after Turkey's war of independence, had said that in order to fight corruption, “Honest people need to be at least as courageous as crooked people."
Kılıçdaroğlu added, “No matter what they do to block Parliament's television channel, we will inform the public.”
Underlining the importance of the rule of law for a democracy's survival, Kılıçdaroğlu noted that nobody, including dictators, can feel secure in a totalitarian regime.
In his speech, the CHP leader also called on the government to lift the ban on May Day celebrations in İstanbul's Taksim Square. “May Day is celebrated as a holiday. I hope no one will be hurt [due to the ban on celebrations in Taksim Square]," he said.
"I hope there will be no provocation. […] I hope they [those who attempt to enter Taksim despite the ban] return home in peace,” CHP leader said.
The CHP leader also dismissed claims made by Erdoğan that the CHP is involved in any kind of conspiracy against the government. “If you are an honorable person, then you should provide evidence of that,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.
Source/Fuente: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-346487-chp-leader-in-search-of-courageou...
