Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the opposition on Monday of inciting chaos and siding with terrorists. Demonstrators threw stones at the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) member and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on Sunday, who would serve as vice president if the opposition's Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu wins the presidential elections.
Erdogan stated regarding the opposition: "They try to tarnish the reputation of our cities shamelessly by creating a negative atmosphere with their provocations," and added: "They are looking for a cover for their expected defeat in the elections by provoking people and insulting them."
Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu also accused the opposition of inciting violence in Erzurum, stating: "İmamoğlu's wife stirred up the crowds when she raised a 'victory' sign at another rally last week, a sign indicating the banned PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party)."
İmamoğlu organized another rally on Monday in Konya, another stronghold of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), saying: "They can throw stones at us, but we will respond with flowers." He added: "The instigators will learn their lesson from the nation at the ballot box first, then they will be judged in independent courts for their mistakes."
