13th Presidential Candidate Kılıçdaroğlu: I used my TRT time to be the voice of those censored by TRT

CHP Chairperson and Nation Alliance Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu told the stories of victimised citizens in his propaganda speech at TRT. CHP Chairperson and Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said, "TRT has invited me only once in the last seven years. Therefore, I wanted to use the time allocated to me on the nation's television to let you know the millions of people whose voices are muted, whose stories are not told, to hear the truth. Because this election is their election, they are the candidates—85 million candidates whose bread, water and future have been stolen. Everyone who wants to regain their lost joy is a candidate. We are a candidate to establish a new order justly and humanely, longing for prosperity, peace and justice."

CHP leader and Presidential Candidate Kılıçdaroğlu said the following in his propaganda speech, which he shared on his social media account with the note, "I used my TRT time to be the voice of those censored by TRT."

"Dear people;

TRT was established to provide public broadcasting independent from political power. It exists for the public so that the public can access accurate, impartial and objective news. However, today TRT has become the broadcasting organ of the ruling party. However, freedom of information is one of the fundamental rights. This right ensures that society receives accurate information in democratic societies. TRT commits daily offences with its broadcasting policy contrary to its own principles and legislation. Although it survives on the people's taxes, it is guided by the government and makes propaganda for the government. Appointees violate the public's right to receive news through biased broadcasting. TRT hides the truth from the public.

So, what is TRT hiding from you? I am not here today to make propaganda. So, instead, I will tell you the facts that our state television is hiding from you.

I will use the time allocated to me to tell the real stories of real people. Today I will be their voice. Today I am silent; it is their turn to speak.

Last year, I was a guest of Ibrahim, whose electricity was cut off in Ankara. Mr Ibrahim told me, "I grew up in a child protection institution, I used to collect garbage, and now I sell Turkish bagels. My electricity is cut off. Did TRT show you millions of citizens condemned to darkness because they could not pay their bills? It did not.

I visited the family of Rıdvan, a mine worker who lost his life in the Bartın mine disaster. Full of grief, his son Emrullah's eyes pierced my heart like a knife. Did TRT report the stories of 41 mine workers who lost their lives? It didn't. Did it report on the lack of precaution, the lack of supervision, the families who were not held accountable, and those who failed to ensure the safety of their workers? No.

I hugged Emine Şenyaşar, whose husband and two children were assassinated by the siblings and relatives of the ruling party candidate in Şanlıurfa, and who has been keeping vigil for years to seek justice. Did TRT show Emine's endless tears to our people? It did not.

On 8 February, I was in Hatay Samandağ. 'There are my mother, brother and father inside. They are giving sound. There is also heat in the thermal camera. But there is no equipment to enter.' Did you see our young man, who cried to us, on TRT's screen? You didn't see it.

Were the images of our citizens shouting, 'Where is the state? Where is AFAD? No, it was not broadcast.

I went to the warehouse of the paper workers who make their bread out of garbage and whose livelihoods were seized. I had tea with them. Mr Baver told me about the injustice he had suffered. I was agitated. Did TRT tell you about the experiences of the paper workers who told me, "We may be dirty in our clothes, but inside, we are a rose garden"? No.

I went to the house of Kuddusi Okkır, whose life was attempted with the Ergenekon conspiracy. Did you see Mrs Sabriye Okkır, who strongly welcomed me, on your screens? No.

What about Mrs Meliha, who said, 'I slaughter my milking cow and pay the loan'? You did not see her either.

Well, did TRT show our people Hanife Hanım, who defended the Ida Mountains at the age of 73, and our citizens who fought hard to protect their water, soil, air, or life? No.

Did it include the story of Salihcan, who could not be appointed despite his ranking in KPSS? No.

Did he show you the wife of Sinan Ateş, one of the most valuable sons of the Nationalist movement, who drug dealers brutally murdered on the street? Did he show his babies? Have you ever listened to the story of the Ateş family on TRT? You couldn't hear it.

Tayfun Kahraman, an urban planner unjustly imprisoned in the Gezi Park case, was arrested. Did you see him hug his daughter Vera for the last time before he went to prison? You didn't. They didn't show it.

TRT invited me only once in the last seven years. This time I wanted to use the time allocated to me on the nation's television to let you know about the millions of people whose voices are silenced, whose stories are not told, to let you hear the truth. Because this election is their election, they are the 85 million candidates whose bread, water and future have been stolen. Everyone who wants to regain their lost joy is a candidate. Every one of us is a candidate to establish a new order justly and humanely, longing for prosperity, peace and justice. Therefore, on 14 May, you will not only vote for me, but you will also vote for everyone seeking justice. You will vote for the people of this country who work with honour but cannot make a living. You will vote for yourself, your loved ones and our future. You will change this rotten order. We will establish the order we deserve together. Remember, my dear people, united, we will win."