Saadet Party's Çalışkan reacts to Erdoğan: One of the clearest indicators that the government does not understand the pain of the earthquake

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at the candidate introduction meeting in Hatay, which was devastated by the earthquake, "If the central government and local government do not join hands, if they are not in solidarity, that city will not receive anything. Did it come to Hatay? Currently, Hatay has remained lonely, has remained forlorn." Reactions to Erdoğan's words continue to pour in.

Saadet Party Hatay MP Necmettin Çalışkan evaluated Erdoğan's words for 12punto. Çalışkan described Erdoğan's statements as "a very unfortunate statement." Pointing out that Hatay is the only opposition-held municipality in the earthquake zone, Çalışkan emphasized that what is happening is the government taking revenge on the municipality. Çalışkan said the following:

AN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE RESULTS BY THREATENING THE VOTER

"It was a very unfortunate statement. I also watched the statement on television screens; I am in doubt as to whether the President said this extemporaneously or if it was a written text. If it was a written text, then either the President is being deceived by his advisors, or he has put forward such a text as a result of a conscious plan. This means that here too, they are in an effort to achieve results by threatening the voter.

Apart from this, if he said it extemporaneously, this can be evaluated as a reflection of his subconscious in his mental world. This is the President's own discretion. And what is essentially being expressed here is this:

Immediately after the earthquake, as both a political party administrator and a non-governmental organization administrator at that time, I had stated many times: One of the important reasons for the high loss in Hatay is that transportation to Hatay via the Belen Pass is difficult. But the main reason is the government's biased view of Hatay and the fact that the administration here is the only municipality in the opposition compared to other earthquake regions. I was of the opinion that such a negativity was experienced as a result of the conflict between the government and the municipality, putting the municipality under pressure, and taking revenge on the municipality. I still maintain my opinion. Certain segments had reacted to this, but unfortunately, I state with great sadness that the validity of this statement was confirmed yesterday."

IS ERDOĞAN WORKING FOR LÜTFÜ SAVAŞ?

Pointing out that Erdoğan's statements and the revocation of TİP MP Attorney Can Atalay's parliamentary seat have caused voters to rally around CHP's Hatay Mayoral Candidate Lütfü Savaş, Çalışkan said:

"These latest moves also turn out to be a step towards resolving the anger of opposition voters in Hatay towards the current mayor, consolidating the opposition, and ensuring the continuation of the same mayor. I wonder if it is considered necessary by certain circles for Dr. Lütfü Savaş to remain as Mayor due to the migration wave in Hatay and the balance of the ethnic structure among the voters. Is this the framework in which the President made this statement? This question is also in my mind.

Two things happened here to the opposition voter. First, the announcement of the revocation of Şerafettin Can Atalay's parliamentary seat these days, and second, this unfortunate statement by the President. The announcement of both a few weeks before the election seems to be an effort that plays into the hands of the current mayor and the CHP.

Both of these last two moves were a step towards the strengthening of the opposition in Hatay in general, and specifically towards the rallying of Republican People's Party voters around Lütfü Savaş. This statement is absolutely unacceptable."

A CELEBRATION PROGRAM, NOT A COMMEMORATION

Çalışkan emphasized that they also reacted to the event program to be held on February 6, the anniversary of the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Stating that the government organized a celebration program rather than a commemoration program, Çalışkan said:

"After seeing this statement, even if some statements are made by different masses on different platforms, we are still waiting for the President to express a word to rectify this. Or we are likely expecting the Center for Combating Disinformation to provide an interpretation with a statement. But it has been a very unfortunate statement. As we stated in the parliament this week, this is one of the clearest indicators that the government does not understand the pain of the earthquake.

They have started to see February 6 as if it were a new celebration day they have brought to our country. The announced celebration program included events such as a Fazıl Say concert, poetry recitals, and concerts. We brought this to the agenda in the Parliament on Tuesday. Then the governor's office revised the events by publishing a new list. This time, they published a new list where concerts were canceled, as if to poke people in the eye, with the morning prayer to be performed in the mosque."