Justice Minister criticizes CHP leader for remarks on presidential system

Turkey's Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ on Thursday slammed the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who strongly opposes the presidential system, saying that only weak leaders oppose the system.

“Weak leaders oppose the presidential system because people do not choose a weak person as their leader,” Bozdağ told reporters in Ankara.

He strongly condemned the opposition leader for his widely criticized remarks on the system. On Wednesday Kılıçdaroğlu said, “You cannot actualize such a presidential system without shedding blood.”

“Those without leadership qualities are opposing the presidential system,” Bozdağ said.

The Justice Minister said that the presidential system is essential for Turkey's development and insisted that the system would be established in Turkey with the will of the Turkish nation.

“Either today or tomorrow, it will come sooner or later. Either with a new constitution or with changes to the constitution," Bozdağ said.

The Ankara Public Prosecutor's office opened an investigation into Kılıçdaroğlu over the comments.

Ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party found his comment dangerous as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also criticized him for his remarks.