Baykal criticizes Erdogan's stance on unemployment

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) made several proposals for fighting unemployment to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, but they were all ignored, said CHP leader Deniz Baykal yesterday. Speaking to his party group meeting, Baykal cited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's words calling on the opposition to make such proposal: "If I don't implement the suggestions by the opposition, I'll quit politics." Baykal then said, "We don't tell you to quit politics, but we want the government to take action against unemployment. Erdogan was disturbed by our proposals." In related news, CHP Istanbul mayoral candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu yesterday spoke to fishermen in Kumkapi about their problems, saying, "After winning the election, I'll first visit here." Afterwards, he met with representatives from various non-governmental organizations, saying, "I prepared the state budget and administered the second-biggest institution after the state. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality budget is much smaller than this." He claimed, "If we improve the situation in Istanbul, I frankly say that we can improve Turkey."