Erdogan continues to criticize Dogan media group and main opposition CHP

Addressing an Istanbul congress of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the weekend, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued to accuse the Dogan media group and its boss Aydin Dogan of waging a smear campaign against the government. He also slammed the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for its claims that the government had put pressure on the Capital Markets Board (SPK) to investigate the group for alleged illegal trading. "You say I gave an order to the SPK head," said Erdogan. "Anyone who fails to prove this (allegation) has no honor, no dignity. I'm saying this very clearly and openly." He added, "The SPK is an autonomous institution. I have issued no directive on this issue. Before falsely accusing the government, the CHP and its leader should first look at themselves." Stressing that the government welcomes constructive criticism, he said, "But we will continue to respond to campaigns trying to tar the government and the AKP with corruption and to defame our dignity and honor." He also said that under previous governments, the Dogan group got whatever it wanted from politicians, but that era is now over. Erdogan also said Aydin Dogan had written him two letters seeking favoritism on business matters. "I'd like to stress, sir, that you will get the same treatment as all of our other citizens," Erdogan said. He also accused the group's newspapers of failing to cover allegations about CHP leader Deniz Baykal's assets. "Just by looking at Istanbul's general outlook, one can see the great changes made by the government over the last six years," he said, citing the city's situation under CHP rule in years past. Over the weekend, Erdogan also attended an iftar fast-breaking dinner with a group of workers in the Tuzla shipyard.