Lambsdorff: PM’s explanations on corruption cases were not convincing


Date posted: January 23, 2014

SELÇUK GÜLTAŞLI, BRUSSELS

The vice-chairman of the Liberal Group in the European Parliament, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, who represented his group in the meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday, said he was not convinced by the arguments put forward by the Turkish prime minister to explain the corruption cases which erupted on Dec. 17 and the unfolding events afterwards.
The German politician, who is also his group’s shadow rapporteur on Turkey, said the prime minister’s theories were not “proper arguments.”

Lambsdorff, who was present at the heated debate with Erdoğan in the European Parliament and posed questions to the Turkish prime minister, said in an interview with Today’s Zaman that he was not convinced by his arguments for basically two reasons.

Stating that Erdoğan had in length talked about the success of the Turkish economy and said the fact that the Turkish economy had quadrupled in the last decade was proof of the lack of corruption, Lambsdorff said this was “unconvincing.” Erdoğan’s argument that the removal of so many police officers and prosecutors was the result of normal procedures was also not helpful, according to Lambsdorff. “This gives the impression that there is interference in the judiciary. It does not look normal,” he said, stressing that they were “very concerned” about the independence of the judiciary, the separation of powers and the rule of law and would closely monitor developments regarding the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).

The German Liberal said Erdoğan seemed very confident of himself and that he believed the Turkish prime minister might not have an accurate analysis of the real situation in Turkey in terms of the independence of the judiciary, press freedoms and Internet regulations, just to name a few of the problems. Lambsdorff raised the question of why Erdoğan had to change almost half of his Cabinet if no corruption had taken place. “It will be very surprising for a country like Turkey coming from a modest economic background not to have corruption when it grows so fast. In such cases, corruption does not get less, but on the contrary. It will be surprising if there is no corruption at all. It is natural,” he said.

Stressing that Erdoğan was mistaken in his analysis both by comparing Turkey with other emerging markets and by the fact that so many high-ranking public officials had to resign, he said, “We got the impression that he is not prepared to agree to pursue corruption charges.”

Referring to the Gezi Park incidents of last summer, Lambsdorff said it was worrying to see once more Erdoğan calling Gezi Park demonstrators “terrorists.” “We followed what happened in Gezi and I do not share his analysis. Calling all those people ‘terrorists’ is unacceptable,” he said.

He added that they had the impression that Erdoğan was really determined to fight against the Hizmet movement, a civil movement inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, and that Hizmet was clearly his target.

Lambsdorff also said they have tabled an amendment for the Turkey progress report prepared by Dutch Christian Democrat Ria Oomen-Ruijten calling on the Hizmet movement to improve its transparency.

The Brussels-based Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP), whose honorary President is Mr. Fethullah Gülen, made a statement last Monday announcing its support for the Liberals’ amendment concerning the Hizmet movement.

Source: Todays Zaman , January 23, 2014


Related News

The ‘other’ interview

The difference between a good leader and a transformational leader is the latter’s openness to being challenged, as they get a chance to showcase their talent, thinking and tasks.

Pro-gov’t circles intensify hypocritical propaganda targeting Gülen movement

The pro-government media and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) circles continue to use hypocritical language against the faith-based Gülen movement — popularly known as the Hizmet movement — inspired by the views of Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, in propaganda both abroad and at home.

Most Turkish asylum seekers in Netherlands Gülen followers

Wil Eikelboom, head of the Association of Dutch Lawyers and Asylum Lawyers (VAJN), said in October that his country recognised the right to asylum for followers of Gülen.

Turkey’s Gulen supporters flee to Greece – BBC World

Hundred of members of Turkey’s Gulenist network have sought refuge in neighbouring Greece. Turkey accuses the network of being behind the failed coup in July 2016. And in recent months, the number of lives in exile appears to be increased as the BBC’s Cagil Kasapoglu reports from Thessaloniki.

A useful guide to understanding the Hizmet-AK Party tension

Mustafa Yeşil, head of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), of which Fethullah Gülen is honorary president, talks about the reasons for the increasing tension between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and the Hizmet movement, which conducts praiseworthy activities in Turkey and around the globe with inspiration from well-respected Turkish-Islamic scholar Gülen.

AK Party gov’t behind anti-Hizmet declaration, leaked recordings allege

A joint declaration by a number of civil society organizations to proclaim open support for the government during debates over the closure of dershanes (prep schools) was concocted by the advisors of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and some associations were forced to lend their support, according to a number of new leaked recordings.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Think Twice on Turkey: Erdogan’s Purges Are a Warning to Washington

Students from 32 countries participate in international cultural festival in Cambodia

Erdogan regime’s defamation of Hizmet at full throttle – UK-based academic denies recent allegations

Zaman newspaper: Turkey police raid press offices in Istanbul

Fethullah Gulen Acquitted

Gülen’s lawyer: Targeting overseas Turkish educators breaks law

Political Activism for Peaceful Coexistence in Rumi and Gulen

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News