14.11.2026 15:32
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met with local press executives in Kocaeli. Kılıçdaroğlu, who said he was saddened that his party was being associated with corruption allegations, said, 'I failed to recognize friends I worked with for years. My party has been badly wounded on the issue of moral superiority.' Kılıçdaroğlu said that Mustafa Sarıgül did not bring him a gift and called for an early election.
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, "I failed to recognize the colleagues I worked with for years; this is one of my greatest shortcomings. Had I known, they would have been in neither the party administration nor the party. My party has been deeply wounded on the issue of moral superiority."
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met with managers of local media outlets at a hotel as part of his Kocaeli program. Making statements there, Kılıçdaroğlu noted that after leaving his position as chairman he has followed politics and written articles on various issues, and said, "I never thought about returning to active politics, but that is not something in my hands. After bringing the ship to a safe harbor, I do not want to be in active politics either. You follow politics, world politics, but there is no expectation or rule that I must necessarily be in it."
SARIGÜL DID NOT BRING ME A GIFT
Answering a question about allegations regarding Mustafa Sarıgül and whether he brought him a gift, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that he knew Sarıgül from his mayorship and said, "There is no gift involved. Nor has he brought me any gift." Stating that he does not find it right for people to be declared guilty from the outset in the face of allegations, but that they must account before the judiciary, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "There should be no immunity in corruption cases. If you are stealing part of the taxes you collect from the state and citizens, you have to account for it. Freedom of thought is sacred, but there can be no immunity for theft."
ELECTIONS MUST BE HELD IMMEDIATELY
Saying Turkey is going through a difficult economic and political period, Kılıçdaroğlu called for early elections. Stating that the opposition cannot escape elections, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "While citizens are struggling to make a living, income distribution is deteriorated, and the merit system is gone, it cannot be said that there should be no elections. Elections must be held immediately."
Saying that problems will deepen if President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan runs again, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "We say yes to early elections, but Erdoğan will not enter an election he will lose; I do not think he will bring early elections." Stating that alliances are inevitable in a possible election, Kılıçdaroğlu referred to the Six-Party Table and said they were the pioneers of alliances.
HE WILL VISIT FATMA KAPLAN HÜRRİYET
Stating that he has not yet met with imprisoned İzmit Mayor Fatma Kaplan Hürriyet, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "I have not met, but I could have. I will visit her at an appropriate time; there is no problem." Also stating that he does not find the imprisonment of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu right, Kılıçdaroğlu said that elected mayors can be tried, but their trial under detention is not mandatory.
I FAILED TO RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUES
Expressing sadness that CHP is associated with corruption allegations, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "If the AK Party, which we accuse of corruption, had not stood up and accused the CHP... This is what upset me most. I absolutely do not accept the defense that 'they were doing it too.' I failed to recognize the colleagues I worked with for years; this is one of my greatest shortcomings. Had I known, they would have been in neither the party administration nor the party. My party has been deeply wounded on the issue of moral superiority."
Stating that he does not find the intervention of chairmen in parliamentary candidate lists right, Kılıçdaroğlu explained that in the last general elections he personally requested that Muhip Kanko be placed first in Kocaeli.
Touching on the social effects of the economic crisis, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that during the 25-year period of power the middle class weakened and this was also reflected in moral values. Saying that the middle class represents moral values in society, Kılıçdaroğlu stated that trade unions and society must wage an organized struggle to eliminate income injustice and strengthen the middle class again.