Speaking during an election rally in Kocaeli province on Sunday, Erdoğan criticized the two opposition parties, the CHP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), for putting the blame on the government over the recently released sex tapes of a number of MHP heavyweights. Ten MHP executives have resigned so far due to the release of such tapes by a group. “Those accusing the AK Party of this recent tape plot are engaged in nonsensical talk. In particular, the slander of the CHP leader, who is himself a byproduct of such a tape, is nothing other than trying to gloss over his inappropriate position,” Erdoğan said.
He was referring to Kılıçdaroğlu's ascension to the CHP leadership in May of last year after long-term CHP leader Deniz Baykal resigned from the leadership of the party following the emergence of a video that showed him having an affair with CHP deputy Nesrin Baytok. Kılıçdaroğlu was elected to the CHP leadership following Baykal's resignation.
“Kılıçdaroğlu himself nominated the male victim of this tape scandal [Baykal] again while he did not nominate the woman [Baytok], who was also a victim,” Erdoğan said.
Erdoğan also recalled a recent controversy over allegations that Baykal had harassed an Odatv reporter and that the reporter sought to use this incident against the politician with Kılıçdaroğlu's help. He argued that Kılıçdaroğlu had talks with the journalist to make use of this incident.
“Kılıçdaroğlu is the last person to accuse people of being behind these recent videotapes,” the prime minister said.
