Baykal urges people to bring ruling AK Party to account in coming local elections

Addressing a crowd of thousands at a rally in the central Anatolian province of Nigde ahead of the March 29 local elections, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal continued to criticize Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his campaign rhetoric, saying that instead of focusing on conflict, the premier should focus on the real problems of ordinary people. Stating that seven years of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) rule has been enough, Baykal said, "In democratic regimes, governments sometimes make mistake. But if people continue to support governments which are at fault, then democracy suffers greatly. In the coming local elections, the people should make the ruling party account for what they've done over the last seven years in office." He also accused the government of trying to cover up corruption within the AK Party. In related news, campaigning in Istanbul's Zeytinburnu district, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer said there are always political alternatives, and criticized the AK Party's performance in office. Sezer also criticized Baykal, saying that he prevents left-wing parties from coming to power. In other news, commenting on Erdogan saying he would seek opposition party support for constitutional changes after the local elections, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Develet Bahceli accused Erdogan of trying to change the country's course in the middle of an election campaign. He added, however, that they could discuss such changes after the local elections, less than two weeks away.