Kılıçdaroğlu: ‘Referendum is on whether we want democracy or a one-man regime’
Speaking at a meeting recently held at his party’s headquarters, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, chair of Turkey’s main opposition party CHP, gave statements about the danger that the country is facing with the proposed constitutional amendments.
Explaining how the proposed changes would allow ‘a leader of a political party to have the ultimate say in most of the critical fields’, including appointment of judges, Kılıçdaroğlu said what will be voted on in the upcoming referendum is ‘whether Turkey’s people want democracy or a one-man regime.’
Kılıçdaroğlu also defined the massive crackdown and purge in the country that the government carried out in response to a failed coup attempt of last summer as a ‘civil coup’ and said Turkey was now at a ‘very critical turning point.’
Also reminding that the proposed amendments have not been thoroughly discussed or analyzed in a manner inclusive of all sides and experts, Kılıçdaroğlu said some changes would actually put the constitution itself to be in contradiction.
Referring to the emergency decrees, Kılıçdaroğlu noted that a great number of decisions, including both major ones and those as simple as the schedule of the academic year, have been regulated by the Council of Ministers and the President since the declaration of state of emergency last July and said this ‘completely has made the parliament nonfunctional.’
CHP’s referendum campaign will include visits to local town and on-site and one-on-one conversations with the public, as opposed to major public meetings.