Main opposition CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu slams controversial Bild article


Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has slammed German newspaper Bild's controversial article that asserted Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, would have voted "no" in the upcoming April 16 referendum, if he were still alive.

Stating that the German daily was aiming to cause a stir in Turkey, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "They don't want a stronger Turkey."

The leader of Turkey's main opposition party joined the chorus of Turkish politicians as he slammed Germany, after German politicians and media continued to interfere in Turkey's constitutional referendum process by seemingly trying to steer Turkish voters' preference to "no" and having banned Turkish ministerial meetings on the basis of "carrying Turkey's internal politics into Germany."

In a televised interview on Tuesday evening, the CHP leader blamed the German newspaper of "trying to cause a stir in Turkey."

"No one wants a stronger Turkey that has a rule of law. The EU already has double standards regarding Turkey's EU accessions talks. I also told [Angela] this to Merkel in our meeting."

Responding to a question over Bild's controversial article, Kılıçdaroğlu branded their interference in Turkish domestic politics as inappropriate and said, "They [Bild] intend to create a controversy in Turkey."

Meanwhile, replying to a question on PKK supporters meeting in Switzerland that promoted the "no" campaign and carried placards that read "Kill Erdoğan," Kılıçdaroğlu said, "No one can threaten the president of Turkey."

He added that the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) should identify the perpetrators and bring them to Turkey.

Echoing Kılıçdaroğlu's remarks, Prime Minister Binalı Yıldırım warned European countries against meddling with Turkey's referendum process and urged them to "mind their own business."

"I warn Europe regarding their attitude towards the referendum, which is an entirely domestic issue. Don't meddle in our domestic politics. Mind your own business. Nobody should cross the line," he said, speaking at a meeting in the Central Anatolian province of Karaman on Tuesday.

Yıldırım added that "racist rhetoric has unfortunately become popular" all across Europe, while Turkey progresses towards democratization.

"Hostility towards Erdoğan has become the trend in Europe. Supporters of terrorist organizations like the PKK and the Gülenist Terror Group [FETÖ] are disseminating propaganda across Europe against the ‘yes' campaign and are getting related organizations banned. This is blatant racism," the prime minister said.