Kılıçdaroğlu says intra-party opponents should leave party

“Whoever is fighting, whoever is using violence no longer has any room in this party. They could join other parties but it is impossible for them to work for the CHP,” declared Kılıçdaroğlu.

His statements came during a meeting with the CHP provincial chairmen at the party headquarters in Ankara.

Citing the general party congress in the upcoming months, Kılıçdaroğlu warned party members that politics is not an area for fighting, adding that he will ensure that a positive approach dominates within the party.

The CHP is often beset by in-fighting and Kılıçdaroğlu frequently has difficulty maintaining control over his party.

Kılıçdaroğlu also said the fact that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is in power means a good opportunity for his party because he believes the AK Party is the most incompetent government of the Turkish Republic.

“We have a chance with the AK Party government. No opposition party has a chance like this. We have such a chance. This is the most incompetent government of the Turkish Republic. They cannot even deliver milk [in reference to the government's free milk project in schools], they could not end unemployment, they failed to ensure the release of jailed deputies who were elected to Parliament by the people,” said Kılıçdaroğlu.

He is referring to a group of deputies from opposition parties in Parliament who were elected to Parliament even though they were in prison as part of ongoing cases. Despite this, the courts did not rule for their release from jail.