CHP, government debate grows over economy

Turkey's main opposition and the government are continuing to lock horns over the former's campaign economic plans, with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) calling them nothing but "empty promises."

"When you make commitments with indefinite sources, then those masses who assume that they have been taking advantage of those commitments will pay the highest price. Now, we better understand why he [Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu] talked to Kemal Dervi? - before all of these things. This is because, he will first empty the treasury which we stored, and then will call Kemal Dervi?. Together with him, he will make the calculation on how we will beg before the IMF," Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said April 21.

The Republican People's Party's (CHP) election manifesto was read out by K?l?çdaro?lu at a grand gathering on April 19. Yet, the issue concerning Dervi?, a former U.N. Development Program chief and well-known economist, dates back to late March.

At the time, at a meeting with K?l?çdaro?lu, Dervi? promised to join the CHP and serve as deputy prime minister responsible for economics if the social democrats come to power.

"When we look at [the CHP's manifesto], when a significant part of it is reviewed article by article, it consists of projects that we earlier carried out, particularly on the issue of social assistance," Davuto?lu said at the Sector Economy Summit held by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

On April 19, having announced his party's manifesto under the title of "A Livable Turkey" and introduced his parliamentary candidates, K?l?çdaro?lu also outlined a strategy to address the problems of the country's 17 million poor people and prioritize turning the country into a first-class...