Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s regular weekly address to his party’s parliamentary group was cut short by TBMM TV, a channel that broadcasts solely from Parliament, on Tuesday.
In the first half of his speech, Kılıçdaroğlu’s microphone was disconnected, prompting some CHP deputies to complain to TBMM TV, only to be told that a technical glitch had taken place. However, instead of Kılıçdaroğlu’s scheduled address, something else was on the air even after this explanation.
Reacting to the censorship by TBMM TV, Kılıçdaroğlu said that “first they silenced our microphones, and then they took us off the air,” urging the parliament speaker to find whoever was responsible for such blocking of the opposition.
Kılıçdaroğlu was reportedly on the air again towards the end of his speech.