Turkey’s president has said that the early parliamentary elections to be held on 1 November will be about choosing between stability and chaos. Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his comments on Wednesday at a meeting with a number of mayors at the presidential palace.
He alleged that there are some within and beyond Turkey who do not like to see the country as powerful as it is now, so they are doing their best to ignite strife in the country.
Refuting accusations that he hindered the formation of a coalition government, Erdogan pointed out that presidential powers on such matters are very clear. “I am acting within the framework of those powers,” he insisted, “and the prime minister’s powers are clear, and he is acting within their framework.” The accusations against him, he stressed, do not reflect reality.
“Those who failed to present a realistic resolution for the people’s problems are trying to evade responsibility through blaming me, even though I will not take part in the elections,” he explained.
The Turkish president asked rhetorically if a government that can secure a parliamentary majority was formed and he blocked it. “I do not have the power to do this in the first place.”
In a clear swipe at the rival People’s Democratic Party, he said, “Everyone who sees terrorism as a flower or a smiling child and considers terrorist organisations as amateur associations cannot be described by the people as innocent or peaceful.”
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