'We will send Erdoğan for sure, but this is not our most important issue!'

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Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the Republican People's Party and the joint presidential candidate of the Nation Alliance of six opposition parties started his election campaign. Having visited the People's Democratic Party (HDP) during the day, Kılıçdaroğlu once again invited people "to meet here," on Twitter yesterday evening.

Posting videos filmed at his house, while he is sitting at his desk is one method of communication Kılıçdaroğlu has been using often lately. In the first video he posted as the presidential candidate, he was sitting in his kitchen instead, with a glass of tea in front of him, and wearing a Martenitsa on his wrist, which attracted remarkable attraction as reflected on social media.

Photo: Typical Martenitsa (Wikipedia)

Martenitsa is a traditional Balkan wristband and is regarded as a herald of spring. It is worn in March and people believe that it brings good luck.

In the video, Kılıçdaroğlu shared his vision for the presidency. "The issue that should unite us all is to compete with the world and to win and to get what we desire. The Turks, the Kurds, Sunnis, Alevis, those who wear a headscarf, those who do not, the leftists, and the rightists should all unite in this common cause. For a better life in common, and for getting, in common, what we desire ."

"We are not uniting against Erdoğan: This is a small target"

Kılıçdaroğlu said in the video, "Dear friends, welcome to my home. I invited you to my house in order to clarify an issue."

But before coming to the "main issue," as he put it, the joint candidate criticized the "Palace government and those who took the road with them," saying they have shown that "they can make the most basic rights and gains of women a matter of negotiation for receiving a few votes."

The New Welfare Party (YRP), one party that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Erdoğan was talking to, with the aim of expanding their election alliance had set 30 conditions for joining the People's Alliance. Amending Law no. 6284 on preventing violence against women which gives the security forces and judiciary means to fight violence against women and take measures against male perpetrators was among these conditions.

Women politicians of AKP, including a minister and a group deputy chairperson, had told earlier this week that amendment of the law was out of the question.

And Fatih Erbakan, the YRP president announced yesterday (March 20) that they will not be participating in any of the election alliances.

"We will create conditions for competitiveness"

The presidential candidate defined their main target as "creating the conditions for building a competitive country."

He said, "Yes, our democracy, our economy, our justice system, and our freedoms are severely threatened by Erdoğan. This has been the case for many years. However, what I pass on this country at this age should not be so small. We will be sending Erdoğan. I am always telling this. This is the easiest among our targets but our real target is much bigger. We will create the conditions for building a competitive country. We live in an era of technological competition. You should not believe "the propaganda of Turks to Turks," made using billions that the Communication Presidency is throwing away. We are not competing with the world. Dear friends, there is a single criterion that shows if you do good in competition or not. Are you earning or losing?"

Kılıçdaroğlu said that Turkey was not good in competition. Underlining that these problems did not start with Erdoğan, but that they smelled to heaven after him because Turkey has been spending its energy on problems at home, Kılıçdaroğlu listed what the country has been through lately: "This country has seen coups, economic crisis, polarization, discrimination, gangs, terror."

"A leader without political desires for the future can solve important problems"

The joint candidate told that he would be a restorative, compensating, uniting, inclusive leader and be the person to prepare the atmosphere for the new generation of leaders of the future.

Kılıçdaroğlu said that as the Nation Alliance they will first strengthen the society, get the state on its feet, heal the open wounds, and give people back their joy of life...

Speaking from his kitchen, the joint candidate also said that later he will retire, "to be with his grandchildren." And he added, "It is as simple as that. Because I have very important problems that I have to solve. And only a leader who does not have any individual political desires related to the future can do this." (AEK/PE)