“If that will contribute to social peace, we are ready to say ‘yes’ to a general amnesty,” he remarked on Sunday, delivering a speech in the southeastern province of Batman. Nevertheless, Kılıçdaroğlu’s statements were not welcomed by his party, as CHP leader Deniz Baykal, speaking on Tuesday, said: “Those remarks are wrong. It is not right to bring such proposals to the agenda,” adding that he does not share Kılıçdaroğlu’s views. Baykal’s reaction prompted Kılıçdaroğlu to backpedal, leading many to describe him as a politician trying to take courageous steps but lacking sufficient bravery to stand behind his remarks.While everyone was wondering whether Kılıçdaroğlu, who challenges the dominant view in the CHP from time to time and stirs up excitement in society with his radical proposals, would backpedal from what he said in Batman, he confirmed the predictions of those who thought we would. “Kılıçdaroğlu cannot be leader,” says Star’s Şamil Tayyar in light of the developments surrounding Kılıçdaroğlu’s “general amnesty” proposal. Recalling Kılıçdaroğlu’s retraction -- in which he said: “The general amnesty discourse is wrong. If you pay attention, I did not talk about anything resembling this anywhere. Nobody should misinterpret my statements. Some are attacking the CHP as if I talked about a general amnesty. There are many things we still have to learn from our leader” -- Tayyar said Kılıçdaroğlu was at a crossroads faced with a choice between continuing in an unassertive manner until Baykal leaves his seat or fighting for party leadership despite Baykal. “He chose the first option. Instead of pursuing his dreams, he decided to be a timid politician and deputy standing beside Baykal. Kılıçdaroğlu is now the same as a spoiled child who has shut up after a slap in the face for uttering cheeky remarks,” he quips.
According to Vatan’s Ruşen Çakır, although some criticize Kılıçdaroğlu for talking about a “general amnesty,” while others criticize his “backpedaling,” Kılıçdaroğlu has managed to come to the nation and his party’s attention in an effective way, which he says is a good indication that he is gaining more and more power in the CHP. From the controversy that erupted over the statements Kılıçdaroğlu made in Batman, Çakır concludes that the Kurdish problem is the mother of all problems in Turkey. “The fact that various circles showed an immediate reaction to Kılıçdaroğlu’s statements is evidence of this. Despite the government’s Kurdish initiative, which aims to resolve Turkey’s long-standing Kurdish problem, the Kurdish problem continues to be a taboo in Turkey. Otherwise, the [Justice and Development Party (AK Party)], the [Nationalist Movement Party] MHP and the CHP would not be so quick to make Kılıçdaroğlu toe the line,” suggests Çakır.
Indicating that it is impossible to talk about a general amnesty for the terrorists of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) before they lay down their weapons, Milliyet’s Fikret Bila says it would be misleading to interpret Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks as supporting an “unconditional general amnesty,” so Baykal and Kılıçdaroğlu’s later statements were a move to correct a misunderstanding by society.
