Kılıçdaroğlu defends HDP immunity vote: 'There was a persistent effort at the time to associate the CHP with the PKK'

The remarks made by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who was brought to the CHP chairmanship via a decision of absolute nullity, on Sözcü TV continue to remain on the agenda. 

While Kılıçdaroğlu mostly responded to questions directed at him during the program with "I don't know," his statement regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) case, "I am not a legal expert, I cannot say I have read the entire İBB indictment. However, we have established a commission of legal experts, and they are examining it. They also bring me a summary. I am not in a position to read all indictments," also drew backlash.

Following the criticism, Kılıçdaroğlu broke his silence. Cumhuriyet columnist Mustafa Balbay covered his meeting with Kılıçdaroğlu in his column today. 

According to this, Kılıçdaroğlu characterized the case in which Ekrem İmamoğlu and his associates are being tried as a "corruption case," but stated that they should be tried without detention.

"WHY ARE THEY AFRAID OF ME?"

Stating that court decisions must be complied with, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "A court makes a decision; you may criticize it in the harshest way, but you must comply with it."

Kılıçdaroğlu expressed, "This decision has been made, why are they afraid of me? If I oppose normalization, they get angry; if I say let's cleanse ourselves, they get angry."

ASSESSMENT REGARDING THE IMMUNITY VOTE

Kılıçdaroğlu reiterated his view regarding the CHP's "yes" vote in the immunity ballot that paved the way for the arrest of HDP politicians, including former HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.

Defending the decision from that period, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "Everything must be interpreted according to the situation at the time. There was a persistent effort at the time to associate the CHP with the PKK. This step was necessary to counter that."

The meeting between Mustafa Balbay and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is as follows: 

KK- I am open to all criticism, but I object to the provision of incorrect information.

MB- You say the cases are not political...

KK- They are corruption cases.

MB- Kemal Bey, for God's sake, 2500 years of imprisonment is being sought for Ekrem Bey. In the same process, his diploma is being cancelled and he is being arrested. If you call this non-political, how can we not object?

KK- I am also against trial with detention. I am at the same point I was when I visited his family.

MB- Then shouldn't priority be given to trial without detention? In Turkey, execution is upfront, justice is on credit. Moreover, politics is being interfered with through corruption allegations globally as well. Lula in Brazil, Sanchez in Spain...

KK- We must first regain moral superiority.

MB- With this judiciary?

KK- A court makes a decision; you may criticize it in the harshest way, but you must comply with it.

MB- You could have fought against the nullity by maintaining intra-party integrity. You could have said, 'I will settle accounts with my party at the convention, not in the courtroom.' You can still say it.

KK- This decision has been made, why are they afraid of me? If I oppose normalization, they get angry; if I say let's cleanse ourselves, they get angry.

MB- Then hold an extraordinary convention.

KK- The regular convention calendar will be announced shortly.

MB- We go to the same marketplace as you. Everyone at the Yüzüncüyıl market, especially the aunt selling gözleme, says, "What is Kemal Bey doing? He has shattered the party..."

KK- We will fix it.

MB- There is an impression that your rhetoric is in line with the government's goals.

KK- Who said that?

MB- The Ottoman geography... Your criticism of Özgür Bey for complaining about Turkey to the outside world.

KK- Everything I said about the Ottoman geography is from İsmail Cem's book. It mentions the Balkans there, and the Turkic world as well. We must take our place in the new world that is being established...

MB- If only you had explained it this way.

KK- They didn't let me, question after question. (Referring to Sözcü TV) Of course, we also want the EU. My objection is to Özgür Bey's words, "You left us alone." A chairman cannot use that sentence.

MB- Your Selahattin Demirtaş response is also being debated.

KK- I visited Demirtaş in the past. I also said I do not find the arrest correct. Everything must be interpreted according to the situation at the time. There was a persistent effort at the time to associate the CHP with the PKK. This step was necessary to counter that.

MB- A Kemal Bey who has conducted a 'March for Justice' is expected to prioritize the rule of law. If the criticisms that surprise you are this many, can't you consider their grain of truth?

KK- I am in the same place. Make your criticism, but there shouldn't be articles based on things I haven't said or things that are not within my horizon. I am astonished at the attitude of the media.