Presidential candidate Demirtas challenges Erdogan to live debate
Politics |
Supporters of presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas in Istanbul cheer their candidate as he condemns government and calls for live debate with Erdogan on state broadcast channel TRT.
Turkey's pro-Kurdish presidential candidate has challenged the country's prime minister to a two-hour TV debate, accusing him of using the state broadcaster as his own personal channel.
Selahattin Demirtas, the candidate for the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, was addressing groups of supporters in Istanbul's Bagcilar neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon.
Welcomed with the announcement, "Here is not just the leader for the southeast [Turkey], but the whole Middle East," Demirtas said the slogan one language, one nation was "fascist", and complained that Turkey had suffered under 12 years of the ruling Justice and Development Party led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan, who is the AK Party's candidate for president, was challenged by Demirtas to a two-hour debate on live television where journalists could pose questions.
Addressing Erdogan, Demirtas said: "You are using TRT [the broadcaster] as your own channel although it is meant to serve the state, the people, it actually serves you." He also accused TRT of "ignoring" his candidacy.
Demirtas called for Turkey to accept a federated system and told supporters: "If you are a real Kurd, elect a Kurdish candidate."
On the latest violence in the Middle East, Demirtas also complained that the "two-faced" Turkish government condemned Israel in public while continuing to do business with it behind the scenes.
"Why are [Israeli] pilots still training in Kayseri? Why is Israel using a base in Malatya? Why are you carrying out Israeli weapons procurement? Saying Im with the Palestinian people day and night while maintaining military ties with Israel is two-faced." Demirtas said that condemnation of Israel should not be confused with anti-Semitism.
Demirtas linked popular Turkish support Gaza against Israel, saying this should extend to the Kurdish people of Kobani province in northern Syria fighting against the Islamist militias of the self-proclaimed 'Islamic State'.
To cheers Demirtas said: "Just as the Gazan peoples resistance is legitimate and right, so is the popular resistance of the people of Kobani legitimate and justified."
Selahattin Demirtas, the candidate for the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, was addressing groups of supporters in Istanbul's Bagcilar neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon.
Welcomed with the announcement, "Here is not just the leader for the southeast [Turkey], but the whole Middle East," Demirtas said the slogan one language, one nation was "fascist", and complained that Turkey had suffered under 12 years of the ruling Justice and Development Party led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan, who is the AK Party's candidate for president, was challenged by Demirtas to a two-hour debate on live television where journalists could pose questions.
Addressing Erdogan, Demirtas said: "You are using TRT [the broadcaster] as your own channel although it is meant to serve the state, the people, it actually serves you." He also accused TRT of "ignoring" his candidacy.
Demirtas called for Turkey to accept a federated system and told supporters: "If you are a real Kurd, elect a Kurdish candidate."
On the latest violence in the Middle East, Demirtas also complained that the "two-faced" Turkish government condemned Israel in public while continuing to do business with it behind the scenes.
"Why are [Israeli] pilots still training in Kayseri? Why is Israel using a base in Malatya? Why are you carrying out Israeli weapons procurement? Saying Im with the Palestinian people day and night while maintaining military ties with Israel is two-faced." Demirtas said that condemnation of Israel should not be confused with anti-Semitism.
Demirtas linked popular Turkish support Gaza against Israel, saying this should extend to the Kurdish people of Kobani province in northern Syria fighting against the Islamist militias of the self-proclaimed 'Islamic State'.
To cheers Demirtas said: "Just as the Gazan peoples resistance is legitimate and right, so is the popular resistance of the people of Kobani legitimate and justified."
Similar News
