Cem Küçük confirms questions on the plane are pre-screened! A notable call to the Directorate of Communications

Media Ombudsman Faruk Bildirici's revelation that the questions journalists would ask President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the plane upon his return from the US reached him hours in advance has sparked controversy. While debates on the subject continue, Cem Küçük, a columnist for the pro-government newspaper Türkiye, confirmed the claim and admitted that the Directorate of Communications removes questions that are not desired to be asked.

"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS DONE"

Cem Küçük said, "The opposition says one thing, government supporters say another. So what is the truth?" and used the following expressions:

"The Directorate of Communications collects the questions each journalist on the plane will ask. Yes, care is taken so that there are no duplicate questions. But the Directorate of Communications also removes any questions that are contrary or that they do not want to be asked. I do not understand why such a practice is carried out...

Actually, this is a wrong practice. President Erdoğan came to power by clashing with headlines during the most difficult times. The media was always in opposition. Now, the majority of the media is pro-government. What could the journalists on the plane even ask that would be contrary anyway!.."

"ERDOĞAN DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM DIFFICULT QUESTIONS"

Stating that Erdoğan does not shy away from difficult questions, Küçük said, "And he answers every question with merit. Remember, what difficult questions international journalists asked Erdoğan. What happened? Erdoğan put them all in their place. FETÖ-affiliated journalists were asking questions during the December 17/25 period. Erdoğan crushed them all. In other words, there is no such thing as a difficult question for President Erdoğan."

CALL TO THE DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNICATIONS: 'LET MODERATE OPPOSITION JOURNALISTS' ON THE PLANE

Cem Küçük also touched upon the selection of journalists taken on Erdoğan's plane. He made a suggestion, saying, "If I were in the place of the Directorate of Communications, I would also take moderate opposition journalists on the plane. If there is to be a normalization, this is important. Let them ask questions too." He also wrote, "Özgür Özel should also invite pro-government journalists to the visits he makes. Perhaps political polarization could decrease this way."