“Kılıçdaroğlu must be elected as the President so that a system of checks and balances can be established,” said centre-right Good Party (İYİP) leader Meral Akşener, speaking on Saturday at the party headquarters in Ankara for the first time following the recent elections.
Meral Akşener, who’s party is in the opposition Nation Alliance, spoke for the first time after the 28th parliamentary and presidential elections held on 14 May.
Akşener emphasised the importance of working towards electing Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the joint presidential candidate of the Nation Alliance, as the 13th president in the upcoming second round of elections on 28 May to restore checks and balances in Turkey’s political system.
“The fact that the parliament is controlled by (Erdoğan’s) People’s Alliance makes it imperative for the Nation Alliance to win. If Erdoğan wins, the presidential system will no longer be up for discussion in Turkey. We must prevent that. The parliament may be composed of People’s Alliance members, but Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu must be elected as the president so that a system of checks and balances can be established,” she said.
Akşener outlined her plans to meet with voters who supported Erdoğan or did not vote for Kılıçdaroğlu, emphasising her dedication to engaging with people at the grassroots level. She stressed the importance of preventing Erdoğan’s victory to avoid further consolidation of a partisan presidential system in Turkey.
Regarding the potential alliance with Sinan Oğan, Akşener denied having met with him but expressed her willingness to support Kılıçdaroğlu’s negotiations. She addressed the issue of Turkish nationalism, emphasising that it should not be based on discrimination or hostility.
In response to a proposal by Ali Babacan, the leader of DEVA Party which is also part of the Nation Alliance, to work together on constitutional reform, Akşener emphasised the importance of timing rather than mere words.
Akşener dismissed the accusations levelled against her party regarding their alleged lack of support for Kılıçdaroğlu, emphasising their intention to debunk such claims in the second round. She stated she asked for two votes on 14 May, one for Kılıçdaroğlu and one for her party, but said she will now ask for votes solely for Kılıçdaroğlu, rather than for her own party.