President and AK (Justice and Development) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed a meeting of provincial leaders at party headquarters on Saturday.
Erdoğan slammed the opposition party, CHP (Republican’s People Party). CHP chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu launched a march from Turkey’s capital, Ankara, to its largest city, Istanbul.
“We see that the line represented by the CHP has crossed the dimension of political opposition, as it supports a terrorist organization and forces that try to provoke our country. Now they have started to engage in politics against the people,” President Erdoğan said.
“Those who call for justice yet attack the Constitutional Court cannot be concerned about justice and law. It is unfortunate that we did not hear their well wishes for our martyrs or veterans, yet they are willing to back terrorists and those who help them,” he added.
Erdoğan said the CHP’s actions were shameful, and that its rhetoric was damaging the country.
“The point CHP has reached today is an alliance with terrorist organizations. If you are accusing Turkish justice, and if you are attacking Turkish justice, the work you are doing is clearly not for the benefit of this country,” the president said.
“You do not defend justice. On the contrary, you exalt persecution. Recognize the martyrs and veterans who fell victim to FETÖ, the PKK and DHKP/C. Recognize the children who became orphans by the bloody terrorists whose coffins you shouldered,” he said, adding “Shame on those who blame not the putschists but the victims of the coup.”
The president also touched on the July 15 coup attempt, which left at least 249 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.
“We will turn July 15 into a symbol that no one else in Turkey can attempt such a betrayal. In the old Turkey’s history, coup dates became public holidays and forced events tried to show the coups and the perpetrators as favorable. From now on, July 15 will be acclaimed as a day to celebrate our independence and sovereignty and remember our martyrs and veterans,” Erdoğan said.
“We will participate in programs held at the parliament and July 15 Martyrs Bridge, where the putschists caused so many deaths.”
Erdoğan announced that the ruling AK Party would go through structural changes.
“In general, I think that a comprehensive change is necessary in our organizations. After April 16, the scale of success changed. You will not be successful if you even get 49.9 percent of votes now. In order to get the result, you have to reach 50 + 1,” the president said.
On April 16, 2017 Turkey held a landmark constitutional referendum that resulted in key constitutional changes. The reforms extend the president's executive powers and the president is now allowed to retain ties to a political party.
The other major changes include lowering age to become a lawmaker from 25 to 18, increasing the number of seats in parliament from 550 to 600, closing down military courts, and same-day parliamentary and presidential elections every five years.
