The meeting was long expected because the two parties’ leaders rarely met since the AK Party came to power in 2002. Former CHP leader Deniz Baykal, who was replaced by Kılıçdaroğlu in May, met with Erdoğan only five times in eight years.“We would gladly lend our support [to the government] to end terrorism if needed,” the CHP leader said while speaking to reporters following the meeting. He said they have similar opinions on the issue of fighting terrorism.
The meeting raised hopes for consensus among political party leaders, who have been at odds on even the country’s most critical issues.
The meeting was held at Kılıçdaroğlu’s chambers in Parliament. Kılıçdaroğlu welcomed Erdoğan at the door of his office. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek, Interior Minister Beşir Atalay and Public Order and Safety Undersecretary Muammer Güler accompanied the prime minister. CHP Secretary-General Önder Sav, parliamentary group deputy chairman Kemal Anadol and CHP Deputy Chairman Hakkı Süha Okay were also present at the meeting, which lasted one-and-a-half hours.
Erdoğan reportedly told Kılıçdaroğlu that professional soldiers would be deployed in military outposts along the border with northern Iraq, where Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists are based. Kılıçdaroğlu also brought some proposals to Erdoğan during the meeting, which mainly focused on the CHP’s view that improving the economy of the Southeast is the best solution to terrorism.
