CHP, İYİ Party hold joint rallies for March 31 elections

AYDIN

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and İYİ (Good) Party launched joint rallies on March 6 as part of their “Nation’s Alliance” in two metropolitan municipalities for the upcoming local elections.

“We are aware of the current situation of Turkey. We will fight together and provide services without marginalizing anyone,” CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said at a joint rally in the western province of Aydın on March 7.

“Please go to the polls with your hands on your hearts. Every lesson you will teach in the local elections will contribute to Turkey’s democracy,” he added.

Kılıçdaroğlu also called on voters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to think carefully when voting for the upcoming elections.

“Many households are unable to make ends meet, with many children starving. Those ruling the country for 17 years have brought Turkey to this state. Those residing in the presidential palace are unaware of these, they are truly detached from the public,” he said.

“[President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] has forced people to line up to buy onions after 17 years. Please think about these,” he added, indirectly addressing AKP and MHP voters.

Meanwhile, İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener also stressed that the Nation’s Alliance will embrace all AKP and MHP voters, without factionalizing.

“We will not idle around, these are the local elections. You will vote for the one providing services to your city,” she said.

Akşener also suggested agricultural goods and services should be sold via municipalities to reduce the production costs for farmers.

“The municipal sales should function all over Turkey, but diesel fuel, electricity, natural gas, pesticides and fertilizers should be included as well. Then let’s observe from which low costs our farmers will produce,” she added.

This is the second joint rally the two opposition parties held after a gathering in the western province of Denizli on March 6.