Erdoğan says his former allies 'conned' Kılıçdaroğlu in opposition alliance

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan launched a scathing criticism against his rival in the presidential runoff, accusing him of being deceived by his former allies, who are now in the opposition alliance.

Two of the six-party Nation's Alliance — former deputy PM Ali Babacan's DEVA Party and former PM Ahmet Davutoğlu's Future Party — are splinter movements from the AKP. The Felicity Party is the predecessor of the Welfare Party, to which Erdoğan was once a member before establishing his AKP.

These parties joined forces with the CHP in the elections with the intention of reverting to their own parties once elected. However, due to the lack of popular support, the CHP's voting rate only increased by 3 percent compared to the 2018 elections. Despite this, the three parties now hold over 30 MPs, far exceeding their actual popular support. Seizing this opportunity, Erdoğan taunted Kılıçdaroğlu, asserting that he had been "conned" by his former allies.

"Apparently, the CHP has fallen victim to the greatest embezzlement in Turkish political history through its partners in the election or, to put it in their favorite expression, the greatest looting" the president remarked during a video conference addressing his party executives yesterday.

"Kılıçdaroğlu, who was entrapped by his own colleagues at the table, seems to have been greatly conned. It is up to the CHP voters to hold the CHP chair and the CHP Headquarters accountable. It doesn't concern us.

"As we always say, the biggest problem in Turkey is the lack of an opposition that is visionary, programmable, project-oriented, and focused on doing good deeds.

"We have changed everything in our country, but unfortunately, we couldn't change the opposition. I believe that these elections will be the catalyst for the change we have been waiting for for years." (VC/VK)