Erdogan Criticizes Opposition Leader For Visits to Iraq, Egypt

Is it really that wrong for Kemal Kilicdaroglu, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader, to travel to hot spots such as Iraq and Egypt? Kilicdaroglu visited Baghdad last month, and will be traveling to Cairo next week. Not that I would argue that these were necessary or timely visits to these troubled capitals, but it is also near impossible to dismiss the perception of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) about Kilicdaroglu’s engagement in these countries, as if it is somehow equal to treason. The growing polarization between the political camps in this country, unfortunately, knows no limits and now attacks its opposition members' engagement with foreign capitals at a cost of hurting Turkey even more.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for example, takes an insulting tone in somehow criticizing CHP’s foreign engagement attempts and stops himself from thinking whether there could be any benefit to Turkey from such contacts. “I attach importance to CHP’s travel to [Egypt.] And I also attach importance to it due to its approach to democracy, and its experience with military coups,” Erdogan said on Sept. 4.