06.11.2026 21:50
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said they would support the early election proposal but were against its being used for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's re-candidacy. Rejecting Özgür Özel's claims that he had made a deal with the government, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "I had neither any contact nor any meeting." Kılıçdaroğlu, who defended a strengthened parliamentary system in the 2023 elections, this time used the words, "A semi-presidential system can also be discussed."
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu evaluated current issues ranging from early election debates to Özgür Özel’s claims, and from presidential candidacy to investigations into municipalities, in a live broadcast on NTV. Kılıçdaroğlu emphasized that he had not made any agreement with the government and also explained his party’s stance regarding calls for elections.
“LET THERE BE AN EARLY ELECTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE”
Asked whether they would support the early election proposal to be submitted to Parliament, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “Yes, we would support it. Let there be an early election as soon as possible. Let us send the government away as soon as possible. An opposition party cannot have the luxury of running away from an election either.”
Rejecting criticism that a possible early election could pave the way for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to run again, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “This is not an early election, but election opportunism. No one accepts election opportunism.”
HE REJECTED ÖZGÜR ÖZEL’S CLAIMS
Özgür Özel’s claims that Kılıçdaroğlu had made an agreement with the government in order to be able to run again and support a constitutional amendment also came up.
Saying that he had no contact whatsoever with the government, Kılıçdaroğlu responded, “I have had neither contact nor a meeting. When an opposition party says the government is going to an early election, you cannot run away. But if you turn this early election into opportunism, we will not accept it.”
“I HAVE NO THOUGHT OF RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT”
To the question of whether he would run for president again, Kılıçdaroğlu replied, “No, I have no such thought.”
When asked whether he had a name in mind for CHP’s presidential candidacy, he said, “In the country’s current situation, I have no such thought; I do not find it right.”
HE DID NOT CLOSE THE DOOR TO NEW ALLIANCES
Also touching on the possibility of new alliances being formed in future elections, Kılıçdaroğlu reminded that they had formed the six-party table.
Stating that political parties coming together is inevitable in order to reach 51 percent in the presidential election, Kılıçdaroğlu said that alliance debates should be held during the election period.
Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the current agenda should be corruption and the deterioration in social values that he argues is taking place.
“THE SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM CAN ALSO BE DISCUSSED”
Criticizing the Presidential Government System, Kılıçdaroğlu argued that the current governing structure does not produce solutions to Turkey’s problems.
Claiming that Parliament has lost its function, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “A strengthened parliamentary system is also possible. The semi-presidential system can also be discussed.”
“DOUBLE STANDARD” CRITICISM IN INVESTIGATIONS INTO MUNICIPALITIES
Evaluating judicial and administrative processes concerning CHP and New Party municipalities, Kılıçdaroğlu said that corruption allegations should be investigated without discrimination between political parties.
Arguing that the allegations he raised in the past against AK Party municipalities had remained inconclusive, Kılıçdaroğlu said, “This double standard is contrary to the founding principles of democracy and is unacceptable.”
Also stating that members of parliament must account for corruption allegations, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that those who serve for the purpose of personal gain should have no place in parliament.
“I DO NOT SEE İMAMOĞLU AS A POLITICAL PRISONER”
Reminded of his earlier statement that he did not see Ekrem İmamoğlu as a political prisoner, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that his view had not changed.
Saying, “Of course. The reason for his imprisonment is not due to his political rhetoric. He is being tried for other reasons. Other mayors are the same,” Kılıçdaroğlu nevertheless argued that a double standard is applied in judicial processes.
Using the expressions, “The judiciary should not become politicized. The judiciary should not be used as a stick,” Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the detention procedures carried out in the early morning hours and the practices of arrest.
THE MECCA AGREEMENT AND THE DEBATE OVER SENDING TROOPS
Asked how they would approach a possible parliamentary motion regarding the sending of Turkish troops to another region within the scope of the Mecca Agreement, Kılıçdaroğlu said the decision depended on the purpose of sending troops.
Stating that he was not opposed to sending troops for training purposes, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that he did not want Turkey to send troops to a war in the region.
Emphasizing that Turkey should be a regional power, Kılıçdaroğlu also supported the Mediterranean agreement made with Libya.
Kılıçdaroğlu said, “At the point reached today, the agreement in the Mediterranean made with Libya is an excellent agreement. I have not the slightest hesitation here,” and said that Turkey should be in a position of a game-setter in the Mediterranean.