The President has made a confession! Former Hatay Bar Association President Attorney Hüseyin Cihat Açıkalın writes for 12punto

President Tayyip Erdoğan, at a candidate introduction meeting in earthquake-devastated Hatay, stated, "If the central government and local government do not join hands, if they are not in solidarity, nothing will come to that city. Did anything come to Hatay? Currently, Hatay has been left strange, left forlorn." 

Former Hatay Bar Association President Attorney Hüseyin Cihat Açıkalın evaluated President Erdoğan’s statements for 12punto.

Attorney Açıkalın’s article is as follows:

During the drawing of lots for earthquake survivor housing in Hatay on February 3, the President, while expressing his thoughts on the local elections, confessed that there is discrimination in the equal and transparent distribution of public services in the country, and that he has knowledge of and involvement in this. He effectively admitted that public officials are abusing their duties and neglecting them in this manner, which is a crime committed against the public.

On the other hand, the clear implication that services will be provided in exchange for votes is also a form of election blackmail.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, who remained a spectator while all this was happening in Hatay for a year and did not raise his voice while urban crimes were being committed, and of course the CHP leadership, have chosen to remain silent once again, preferring to quietly hand Hatay over to the ruling power, just as they did in the candidate selection process.

Perhaps they are conducting a poll on whether or not to make a statement. Because, as you know, the candidate in this city was also determined by pollsters.

Despite all this, I would like to take this opportunity to state that, with my identity as a legal professional, I will continue to stand by the people and the law on the ground.