Former main opposition CHP leader slams AK Party-CHP ‘normalization’ as political ploy

Former main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu criticized the recent ‘detente’ between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and CHP, asserting that “normalization” is a concept that does not apply to politics.

In a discussion with Ankara representatives of newspapers and television channels on the Anadolu Conversations program, Kilicdaroglu refrained from addressing internal party issues and instead presented his criticisms of the government in a scholarly manner, according to Akif Bulbul, Ankara correspondent of Türkiye Daily.

Recent mutual visits between AK Party leader and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and CHP leader Ozgur Ozel were interpreted as signs of a potential normalization in Turkish politics.

‘Normalization doesn’t exist in politics’

Kilicdaroglu, who frequently engages with philosophers, sociologists, economists, and other academics, responded to questions about political ‘normalization’ by stating, “The concept of ‘normalization’ does not exist in politics. Political parties are rivals; everyone aspires to be in power.”

“Everyone aims to secure more parliamentary seats. By its very nature, politics is competitive. You seek to win over voters from other parties and persuade them to support you. If their perception of you is rigid, you attempt to soften that rigidity,” he added.

Kilicdaroglu further remarked, “Politics driven by identity, belief, and lifestyle leads to wasted energy.”