Kilicdaroglu denies claims of corruption from tenure heading SSK

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) mayoral candidate for the Istanbul Greater Municipality, yesterday dismissed accusations that he was involved in corruption while heading the Social Security Institution (SSK) in the 1990s. Speaking at the CHP's new campaign office in Istanbul's Sultanbeyli district, Kilicdaroglu said he was being targeted by these false claims due to his exposure of ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) corruption over the past six years. Accusing his rival Kadir Topbas, Istanbul's AK Party mayor, of hiding how things really are, he said that despite enormous expenditures, no important problem in the city has been solved. Kilicdarloglu also pledged full transparency if elected.