The Party of European Socialists (PES) firmly supports Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, from our member party Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP), as the common candidate of the Turkish opposition in the presidential election to take place in May.
Kılıçdaroğlu is the leader of the main opposition party, CHP, which is the largest political party making up the broad-based opposition bloc “Nation Alliance.” In 2017, Kılıçdaroğlu led the famous 280-mile long “Justice March” to oppose the unravelling of Turkey’s democracy under President Erdogan.
Kılıçdaroğlu has been a Member of Parliament since 2002 and the leader of the CHP since 2010.
The upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections are a very important opportunity to stand against the authoritarian drift Turkey has undergone under Erdoğan. Erdoğan has deliberately targeted the separation of powers and political pluralism, openly persecuting the political opposition. It is time to state unequivocally that democracy, civil liberties, and the separation of powers are more important than one single political project.
European socialists and democrats commend opposition parties for unifying behind Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. This confident move unites democratic forces in the Nation Alliance and brings a fair and just Turkey one step closer.
