Kılıçdaroğlu declares 'I will continue my active political life': 'I have to be involved'

Recalling Süleyman Demirel's words, "Politics has an entrance door but no exit door," Kılıçdaroğlu stated, "I do not have the luxury to ignore politics, to not look at Turkey's problems, or to not examine the solutions produced for these problems. I have to be involved in these matters."

Kılıçdaroğlu answered questions from Murat Sabuncu of T24. Former CHP Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu said regarding his meeting with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, "We discuss among ourselves, different suggestions come up. In the end, we sit down and make a decision on this. Within that framework, we present the solutions as the party's solutions. Our sole and common motivation is Turkey."

Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he would also meet with CHP Chairman Özgür Özel before the party convention.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also recounted his meeting with former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who is currently in Edirne Prison.

"IT IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE"

Answering a question about his meeting with IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, "It is of vital importance that the CHP acts in unity."

Kılıçdaroğlu said the following:

"I am the 7th Chairman of the Republican People's Party. I do not act under the pressure of my emotions or the public's ability to set a direction for issues, nor do I see such a right for myself. We are all worried about the conditions Turkey is currently in. AKP voters are also complaining. The party that will lead Turkey out of this difficult predicament is the Republican People's Party. Therefore, it is of vital importance that the Republican People's Party acts in unity and solidarity. There may be those who think differently within the party from time to time. Different ideas should be seen as positive in terms of finding a healthier path. New searches and new solution proposals will certainly exist and should exist. Unfortunately, our country is experiencing very serious problems. The way to overcome problems is through discussion. Two heads are better than one. Therefore, we discuss among ourselves, different suggestions come up. In the end, we sit down and make a decision on this. Within that framework, we present the solutions as the party's solutions. Our sole and common motivation is Turkey.

Look, the only obstacle to Turkey's de facto transition to an autocratic management system is the Republican People's Party. If this impregnable fortress is taken over and becomes a cog in the wheel that we define as the 'established order,' everyone in this country will become a spectator to a rapid process of 'Iranization-Middle Easternization.' The rest is already known to you. This is why it is my greatest desire for our party to act in unity and integrity.

The way to achieve this is for the party to discuss within itself on a healthy ground and to produce solutions. Of course, when I say discussing within itself, it also needs to listen to areas outside of us that are discussing the same problems. Because every discussion can naturally provide us with great contributions. It should be viewed within this framework."

"WHAT NORMALIZATION ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT?"

Regarding the CHP's party convention to be held in September, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "There are hundreds of studies in the party's archive regarding the charter. So we have a very rich archive. During my chairmanship, we also did serious work on the charter. All these studies need to be addressed and evaluated. With a rational policy, the obstacles in front of the party stemming from the charter must be removed."

Speaking about the term 'Normalization' brought to the agenda by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, the former Chairman said, "The discourse of normalization gives them courage. What are you going to talk about? What are you going to discuss with them? If the legislative body has ceased to be a legislative body, if the judiciary has ceased to be a judicial body, if the executive has ceased to be an executive, and if the entire state is tied to the words coming out of one person's lips, what normalization are you going to talk about? The state has ceased to be a state.

The hierarchy in the army is completely broken. It is unclear who is doing what. Therefore, the system has revealed the reality of a state structure that is incapable of protecting itself within a massive lack of system. Everyone with common sense, everyone who loves their country, everyone who thinks about the future of their children must look at this picture carefully," he said.

Kılıçdaroğlu continued his words as follows:

"If the farmer cannot make a living, the reason is Erdoğan. If there is unemployment, the reason is Erdoğan. If the public has become two poles, the reason is Erdoğan. If the survival of the homeland is in danger, the reason is Erdoğan. The only reason for the refugee problem, the bankruptcy in the economy, our youth fleeing abroad, suicides, and moral decay is Erdoğan. He is the one who called our founding leader a 'drunkard.' He is the one who called our women 'sluts.' He is the one who called dissidents 'looters.' He is the one who divided our youth into 'pious and vengeful.'

He is the one who called our party 'garbage-mud-pothole.' He is the one who called the Chairman 'base.' Whoever is going to soften, whoever is going to normalize, go ahead, Mr. Murat. I will never forget these and accept them."

"TURKEY MUST GET OFF THE GROUND OF IMMORALITY"

When asked, "Does he want to be chairman again?" Kılıçdaroğlu replied, "I will continue my active political life."

Kılıçdaroğlu said the following:

"As a person who has served as chairman of the party, of course, I have to be closely involved with politics. I do not have the luxury to ignore politics, to not look at Turkey's problems, or to not examine the solutions produced for these problems. I have to be involved in these matters. I have such a responsibility. Of course, I am fulfilling this responsibility. I write articles from time to time. I explain my thoughts on television from time to time. Our citizens come and I talk to them.

Mayors come. Political parties come. Non-governmental organizations come. Sometimes when I talk to university students, when some say 'We are not interested in politics,' I tell them this: It is true that you may not be very interested in politics, but politics is interested in you. Because politics determines the price of the bus you ride, politics determines the price of the bread you buy. Therefore, to the extent that you are interested in politics, the political institution gains a healthier structure, I convey my thoughts to them as well.

As the late Demirel said, 'Politics has an entrance door but no exit door.'

First of all, let me say that I will continue my active political life. Every 10 days, we come together with philosophers, historians, or sociologists and academics, and we sit down. We have meetings for four or five hours. I have thoughts about Turkey getting out of the picture it is in. From time to time, I put these into writing, I write articles. The last article was published in Karar. It was the sixth article about the institutionalization of immorality. It will continue after this. Turkey must get off the ground of immorality. It is a very dark ground, a very slippery ground. It is an extremely dangerous ground for the future of the country. We must definitely elevate moral values. Otherwise, our end is a disaster."

"WE PUT TURKEY'S PROBLEMS ON THE TABLE"

Regarding his visit to the imprisoned former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, Kılıçdaroğlu noted the following:

"With Mr. Selahattin, naturally, as two politicians, we put Turkey's problems on the table. We sat down and had a meeting that lasted nearly 1.5 hours. I found him extremely healthy. I found him energetic. I was also extremely happy that he drew a portrait of a politician who is knowledgeable about Turkey's problems. In other words, being in prison has not disconnected him from the realities of Turkey. He devotes more time to the issues.

Also, outside of politics, you know, he has also entered into stories, novels, and these topics. He expressed that he is in favor of civil politics, that he is against violence, and that he will contribute to every effort to be shown in solving Turkey's problems. As I said, I found him extremely healthy and vigorous. But a politician being kept in prison stems from the state losing its reflex to protect itself, which I mentioned earlier. A politician cannot be arrested, detained, or put in prison because of their political thoughts. Then politics ceases to be politics. Then there is an oppressive administration. There is already an oppressive administration in Turkey right now. We all know that democracy in Turkey has been completely suspended."

News Source: 12punto