Erdogan: The nation brought us, not the CHP, to power

Addressing thousands in campaign rallies in the central and southern Anatolian provinces of Kayseri and Gaziantep over the weekend, Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged that the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and its media allies are colluding to spread smears about the government. "The government has taken remarkable steps over the last six years to eliminate corruption," said Erdogan, with less than a month to go before the March 29 local elections. "That's why some circles are very anxiously screaming. They used to get whatever they wanted, but now they can only get what they deserve. The CHP is pushing for the interests of those circles." Stating that the enthusiasm of AK Party supporters at campaign rallies is the best repudiation of what he called pro-CHP media outlets, Erdogan praised the people of Kayseri for supporting democracy, law, justice, production, competition, and employment quality. In response to CHP leader Deniz Baykal challenging him to a televised debate, he said, "Mr. Baykal, you didn't bring me to this post, the nation did. But you don't get along with the nation. You only see the nation on television. You can't see them on television. This is where you see the nation." Kayseri has become an exemplary city under AK Party rule, he said, adding that the party would like to see the whole country develop like Kayseri. He said the city is not only a locomotive for its own region, but for the entire country. "Our task is not to be satisfied with where we are now, but to make Kayseri develop even further," Erdogan said, stating they were striving to do this. Erdogan concluded by calling on the Turkish people to think big. In Gaziantep, Erdogan said the people will do whatever is necessary to give the best response to the opposition parties in the March 29 elections. He also said that before spreading smears about the government and the AK Party, the CHP should first clean its own house.