First Class Democracy, Peaceful Foreign Policy To Bring $50 Bln Annually: Kılıçdaroğlu

- First class democracy and peaceful democracy will bring Turkey some 50 billion dollars annually, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Asked about the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) argument that a coalition government would destroy stability and economy, Kılıçdaroğlu said the economy in Turkey has already been skidding for three years.

Speaking to a group of journalists on his way from Ankara to Antalya, Kılıçdaroğlu questioned the government speaking about economy.

The number of unemployed has exceeded the number of employed in the first time ever since the history of Republic, Kılıçdaroğlu said noting also wrong foreign policy has led to major loss in Turkey’s economy.

“The bill of mistakes on Iraq and Syria [policies] is 16.7 billion dollars. Is this stability?” the CHP leader asked.

During his visit to Iraq, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said they planned to make 500 billion dollars worth of investments in 10 years’ time through Turkish investors, Kılıçdraoğlu said.

But Iraqi prime minister reproached him, saying, “We open highway for you, but you try to get in through the window” according to Kılıçdaroğlu.

Iraq, Syria, Libya and Egypt are vital points for Turkey; if only peace is established in the Middle East, Turkey would benefit some 50 billion dollars, he added.

The CHP leader stressed foreign investors were concerned about current legal system in Turkey.

Law in Turkey is not as “universal” as foreigners expected, he said, adding that foreign investors are of the opinion that there is no property safety in the country.

The government should be grateful for the reforms of Kemal Derviş since the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) ruled on the basis of those reforms, Kılıçdaroğlu said in reply to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s suggestion that if the CHP ruled the country, they would empty the Treasury to meet election campaign promises and that Derviş would beg for money from the IMF.

Derviş, a prominent economist, earlier stated that he would be willing to oversee economy policies as deputy prime minister if the CHP comes to power.

The CHP leader also said in the event that they come to power, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would not be able to head the cabinet except in cases of emergency.

Kılıçdaroğlu said he did not directly object to the ending of a special consumption tax on diamonds because it paves the way for foreign currency. When the government questioned the CHP’s promise to decrease the price of oil for farmers to 1.5 Turkish Liras, he stated that if the AKP were to end the diamond tax, then his party would decrease the oil tax for farmers.