Deputy PM: Kilicdaroglu's political career could be over

ANKARA

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus warned Thursday that if the country’s main opposition leader does not walk back “indecent” remarks on a female minister, his political career could be over.

“I’m saying it this in a friendly way. If Mr. [main opposition Republican People’s Party, CHP, leader] Kilicdaroglu does not turn back from this mistaken path, it is the beginning of the end of his political life,” Kurtulmus told Kanal 24 TV in Ankara.

On Tuesday, Kilicdaroglu accused Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Sema Ramazanoglu of remaining silent on a recent student sexual abuse scandal in the central Karaman province.

"The governor does not speak, the police chief [or] education minister does not [speak]. The family minister also does not speak, as she lay down before someone," Kilicdaroglu told his party's group meeting about the abuse scandal.

Kurtulmus said that Turkish politics cannot tolerate hearing such things “especially from a party leader and in particular from the leader of the main opposition party”.

He added, “Humanity’s tongue can make mistakes, may say something wrong”, but insisted that virtue demands an apology. “That is why firstly we invited him to apologize,” he said, adding that Kilicdaroglu unfortunately reaffirmed what he said.

Kurtulmus said neither he personally nor the government is waiting for “an official apology”. But he added that an apology to Ramazanoglu as minister, mother, and woman “is essential for Mr. Kilicdaroglu to save himself from the situation he has fallen into”.

Ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesperson Omer Celik also slammed Kilicaraglu’s comments on Ramazanoglu.

“From now on, Kilicdaroglu has gone beyond being a problem of Turkish politics, to being a moral problem,” Celik told reporters at party headquarters in Ankara.

Celik called it a “misfortune” that Kilicdaroglu is at the helm of one of Turkey’s most established political parties.

Earlier on Thursday, Ramazanoglu filed suit against Kilicdaroglu, accusing him of causing her mental anguish and violating her personal rights, and seeking damages of 50,000 Turkish liras.