Türkiye's successful counterterrorism fight against the PKK has ensured safety and security in the country's southeast while also attracting investment in the region, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday.
"Think about the East and Southeast. You couldn't even go out on the street at night in Diyarbakır before," Erdoğan told a live broadcast on CNN Türk.
He continued by saying that the country's counterterrorism fight has ensured safety and stability and everybody can now go on the streets without fear.
The elimination of terrorism has also attracted investment in the region, the president said, which also created job opportunities and tourism in the region.
He accused the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the presidential candidate of the opposition bloc, of acting in line with terrorist groups. Noting that the terrorist group PKK has been urging to unseat the president because they know his stance against them, Erdoğan said terrorist groups will win if Kılıçdaroğlu wins the runoff on the 28th.
"We root out terrorism at its source," he said.
Turkish security forces regularly conduct counterterrorism operations in the eastern and southeastern provinces of Türkiye where the PKK has attempted to establish a strong presence and bases.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) also carry out cross-border operations in northern Iraq, a region where PKK terrorists have hideouts and bases from where they carry out attacks on Turkey. The operations were intensified after July 2018 and gradually became routine.
The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S. and the European Union – has been waging a terrorist campaign against Türkiye for more than 40 years, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.
AK Party defends, promotes women's rights
In response to recent claims by a daily arguing that the election on May 28 would be the "last election" for women, Erdoğan said they were groundless.
"I don’t know who wrote these headlines but AK Party is the party which has increased the number of female lawmakers in the parliament," he said, adding that his party also strictly rejects violence against women.
"Our women make up half of our society, so they need representation in the parliament," he said, adding that the main opposition party is not sincere about its rhetoric, because Kılıçdaroğlu was the first person to submit an objection against the headscarf law but he’s rejecting this now.
May 14 parliamentary elections, held simultaneously with the presidential vote, brought an unprecedented victory to women in the history of the Republic of Türkiye.
The new term of Parliament will be highest in terms of women’s representation in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), at more than 20%, compared to 17.1%. Women also make up the bulk of the youngest lawmakers in the new Parliament.
Some 121 women will serve in the new term of Parliament, according to unofficial results. A total of 479 lawmakers are male in the 600-seat Parliament.
The Green Left Party (YSP) has the highest number of female lawmakers compared to their total number in Parliament. However, it is the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) that has the highest number of female lawmakers in the legislative body at 50. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the YSP have 30 female lawmakers each, while the Good Party (IP), ruled by Meral Akşener, the only chairwoman of a major political party in Türkiye, will have six female lawmakers. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has four lawmakers while the Turkish Labor Party has one female lawmaker.
The AK Party boasts an increase in its female lawmakers, up from 17.9% to 18.7%, while its main rival CHP increased this rate to 17% from 12.2%.
Cabinet first on agenda
In response to a question about what would be the first step he would take if re-elected, Erdoğan said he will hold consultations with his colleagues and establish the new cabinet as soon as possible.
"I will hold consultations with the Central Executive Board (MYK)," the president said, adding that they would take into consideration the People’s Alliance’s position in the Parliament and proceed accordingly.