Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, former leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has criticized the party’s new leader, Özgür Özel, for actions perceived to align with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and covering up its allegedly corrupt actions.
Although the CHP came in first in the March 31 local elections, Özel, who was elected party leader last November, has been moderate in his criticism of Erdoğan’s AKP government. Under the pretext of normalization in Turkish politics, Özel and Erdoğan paid visits to each other and avoided any harsh criticism, with detractors accusing Özel of yielding to Erdoğan.
In his veiled criticism of Özel, Kılıçdaroğlu said on X on Saturday that the CHP will never be a party that legitimizes bribery, describes those who give bribes as representatives of the state and supports such a corrupt system of governance.
“The institutional responsibility of the CHP, to which the public is closely tied with great hope, is to not overlook the wrongdoings committed under the guise of normalizing relations with the ruling party or to become complicit in its crimes,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.
The former CHP leader was referring to Özel’s recent downplaying of claims about Turkish government officials’ giving bribes to New York City Mayor Eric Adams in order to speed up the opening of a high-rise in the city, which triggered a storm of criticism and anger.
Özel last Thursday visited Turkish House (Türkevi), a 36-story building opened in New York in 2021 by Erdoğan that houses the Turkish Consulate General as well as multiple Turkish diplomatic missions.
The visit came on the same day as an indictment against Adams was unsealed by Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, following an investigation that started in 2021.
Adams faces charges of bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals including at least one Turkish government official. In addition to accusations of accepting free airline tickets and upgrades, lavish hotel stays and illegal campaign donations from Turkey, Adams is also accused of — upon a request from a Turkish official — pressuring the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to facilitate the opening of Turkish House without a fire inspection, in time for a high-profile visit by Erdoğan.
Speaking to reporters following his visit, Özel said Turkey is not a country that would need to pay bribes to ensure the opening of a skyscraper, referring to the accusations as a “gesture” made to Turkey in the opening of the building.
The CHP leader attracted harsh criticism for defending the alleged government corruption behind the opening of the building and for failing to act as a real opposition leader but rather appearing to be a government “spokesman” at a time of such serious allegations.
In October 2022 Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the construction of a similarly luxurious building in Manhattan by the Turken Foundation Inc., which was jointly established by Turkey’s Service for Youth and Education Foundation (TÜRGEV), where Erdoğan’s son Bilal serves as an executive board member, and the pro-government Ensar Foundation.
“This is Manhattan, the most expensive area of New York. This is the skyscraper built by your family. The construction of this skyscraper continues with the money sent by your son to your daughter,” he said, addressing the president in a video message he shared on X.
Burası New York, Manhattan. ABD’nin en pahalı iş muhiti… Tanıdığım bir ailenin gökdelenine “hayırlı olsuna” geldim.
Erdoğan kim, anayasa, aile kim…
Onunla ne aile konuşulur ne anayasa.
Bu konu kapanmıştır. pic.twitter.com/hubt6VUtja— Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (@kilicdarogluk) October 11, 2022
Critics have long accused the CHP of doing politics within the boundaries set by Erdoğan and failing to put up strong resistance that could challenge the president’s ruling AKP.