PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“These remarks are unacceptable and unworthy of respectable public life. No convicted criminal belongs in politics.
“A man with a criminal record cannot decide what can and cannot be said by a leader of a legitimate political party. Kemal is a strong leader who has the perfect right to express political opinions and criticise other parties’ positions on behalf of his electors.
“We call on the justice minister and the Turkish government to respond to these threats and support Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. We call on the Turkish justice system to swiftly respond to the criminal complaint filed by Kemal.”
Alaattin Cakici is a multiple criminal who has recently been freed by the Turkish authorities in a bid to empty Turkish prisons in the wake of COVID-19. He has close ties to the leader of the Turkish nationalist party, MHP. His verbal attack against Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is a part of a wider intimidation campaign against the leader of the opposition.
