CHP LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KEMAL KILIÇDAROĞLU RELEASED THE VIDEO HE SHOT WITH DEVA LEADER ALİ BABACAN IN HIS KITCHEN AT HOME

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairperson and Nation Alliance Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu posted a video he shot in the kitchen of his home with Ali Babacan, the Chairperson of the DEVA Party, on his social media account with the message "Champions League is ready".

CHP Chairperson and Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said in the video, "The teams that will give Turkey a quick breath of fresh air get us out of this crisis and ensure lasting prosperity afterwards are ready. We have academics and experienced bureaucrats who are highly respected worldwide and work abroad and at home in that team. Experts in the field of the economy from all stakeholders of the Nation Alliance, you will see this champions league team in a few days."

DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan said, "Economic management is a matter of staff. Only with well-trained, honest and competent staff can the country's economic problems be solved. Therefore, we are already working and preparing these cadres. Very soon, you will get to know our team's beautiful, decent people. And as you get to know them, you will love them very much."

CHP leader and Presidential Candidate Kılıçdaroğlu and DEVA leader Babacan made the following statements:

Kemal KILIÇDAROĞLU-I have an important guest in our kitchen today. Our wives are in the living room, so we took shelter here. We are having tea with Ali Bey, with whom we will carry out significant work as of 15 May. So we thought we should take this opportunity to address you as well.

Mr Ali Babacan is a competent politician who has been at the head of economic management for years and has adopted a rational policy in the economy. He is a person the world trusts. Together as the Nation Alliance, we will make the state's economic institutions reliable worldwide. Professional merit will return to the institutions. We will realistically reassure financial circles. While ensuring budget discipline, we will also ensure tax justice. We will turn our country into a country that competes with the world with planned and clean investments, production moves in every field and innovative technologies. Remember, first, we said spaciousness, then prosperity. The teams that will help Turkey wind and get us out of this crisis and ensure permanent prosperity are ready. We have academics and experienced bureaucrats who are highly respected worldwide and work in Turkey and abroad. There are experts in the field of the economy from all stakeholders of the Nation Alliance, and you will see this Champions League team in a few days.

We know what we will do. As soon as we take over, we will first implement robust solutions that will give our people a get-off tail. We will end the cost of living, price instability and this destructive inflationary process. We will mobilize domestic and foreign resources and bring fresh air to our economy. I have travelled to many countries for this purpose. When we told this team, all doors opened before us. Clean Capital wants to see staff and merit in the country it will go to. That is why I visited science, technology and investment centres. I held working meetings with the world's most significant investment funds. As a result, I received hundreds of billions of dollars of clean investment promises. This promise was not made only to Mr Kemal. Everything is teamwork.

But we will not only be satisfied with this; we will also bring lasting prosperity to Turkey. As you know, I am explaining our projects to you before my board. We will establish the infrastructure of the industrial revolution of the era in Turkey. We will discuss digital technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, financial technologies and green energy. Yes, we will achieve this, and we will do it. We will succeed with this team. Be sure we will succeed.

Mr Ali, your knowledge, experience and expertise... You have a lot to tell us. So let's listen to you briefly.

Ali BABACAN-Thank you very much. First of all, I would like to thank you for your hospitality. We wanted to be with you in the kitchen while our spouses chatted inside. Mr Kılıçdaroğlu is our joint presidential candidate. He is a person who has won the hearts and minds of all our people with his honesty and state experience. And hopefully, together, we will carry this country to a much better tomorrow by working hard.

Of course, when it comes to the economy, the most crucial concept is trust. Trust is necessary to be successful in the economy. We measure whether there is a trust or not by the interest payments of the Treasury. 'If the Treasury of a country pays too much interest, the trust environment of that country has been shaken. If a country's Treasury starts to pay less interest, that country has an atmosphere of confidence. Last year, the Republic of Turkey's Treasury paid 311 billion liras in interest. The figure planned for this year's budget is precisely 565 billion. When you add the exchange rate difference of 200 billion, the government intends to pay 765 billion in interest payments this year. This money is enough to build 1 million houses and give them to our citizens for free. Last year the government made an interest payment sufficient for 1 million homes, and it has announced with the budget that it will do the same this year. It is essential to give this example only in terms of the size of the figures.

Of course, when discussing the economy, we should start with 'human beings first'. The most crucial aim of the economy is to provide citizens with a life worthy of human dignity. This is based on justice, working with qualified and competent staff and a culture of consultation.

Justice is more than just the fast and smooth running of affairs in the judiciary. Justice is also an equal opportunity—equality of opportunity in education and equality of opportunity in employment. We have announced that we will eliminate the interviews when entering the labour market, which will be a crucial step. Equality of opportunity in promotion. It is only possible to be successful in the economy with justice.

Again, to work with qualified, meritorious staff. 'Let a saviour come and solve all the problems', there is no such thing. Economic management is a matter of team. Only with well-trained, honest and competent staff can the country's financial problems be solved. Therefore, we are already working and preparing these cadres, and soon you will get to know our team's beautiful, decent people. And as you get to know them, you will love them very much.

The third issue is, as I mentioned, consultation. It is only possible with consultation. We need a management principle in constant communication with civil society and professional organizations that understands and listens to the problems and comes back with suggestions to produce solutions. That is why we have decided to convene the Economic and Social Council immediately after a long time. If we are fortunate, one of the first things we will do after the formation of the government is to immediately convene the Economic and Social Council and start implementing our policies in interaction with the social partners. This is one of our most important goals.

Of course, Turkey needs a fundamental, long-term goal for all this. This goal is the European Union (EU) standards. Whether we become a member of the EU or not is another matter. But our population of 86 million, Europe's most prominent and youngest population, deserves a life in line with EU standards. And to reach EU standards, we need to bring our citizens to life and living conditions at European standards in the rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms, but also in every aspect of our lives, from the quality of the fabric of the shirt we wear to the quality of the water we drink. This is our most important goal.

At the same time, visa-free travel with the EU... The things to be done in this regard are clear. They are relatively easy things. Within three months, we will do our part to abolish visa requirements for travelling with the EU. As Turkey, we can complete these. In 3 months, we can bring this to this point so our young people can see Europe. Europeans can travel to and from Turkey more easily. Communication will intensify, the economy will enter into a much more intensive interaction, and Turkey will reach a point where the passport of the Republic of Turkey is valuable for all our citizens.

In all this intensive work, we will undoubtedly pay close attention to the environment. But, while running fast in economic growth and development, we will never take an attitude that will harm the environment and intergenerational justice.

And again, we will attach utmost importance to social policies in this process. We will never lose our concern for the social state. Yes, we will run, compete, and struggle to reach a much stronger economy in the world. Still, we will fulfil all the requirements of the social state in this race, and we will never allow any of our citizens to fall below a certain income level, a certain subsistence level. Turkey is a powerful and huge country with great potential, but it is possible to unlock this potential with a good administration and honest and competent staff. We know this, and we have already set out for this purpose, and for this purpose, we have sought the support of our citizens. Therefore, God willing, the dark winter will end very soon, and our country will embark on a safe journey towards many more springs.

Kemal KILIÇDAROĞLU-Thank you very much, Mr President. Our people buy even onions by asking the price because of the disaster brought to the country by meritless people. We will win by uniting against injustice, mismanagement and polarization. In the second century of our Republic, Turkey will shine brightly with this Champions League squad. I will retire in peace after putting the country back on track, and I will be proud of the achievements of this team. This is my greatest desire.

Have a good evening.

Ali BABACAN-Good evening to all of you.