During the presidency of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the Republican People's Party (CHP), on the one hand, came together with different social segments and parties demanding a democratic order with its “Halalization” policy, and on the other hand, it engaged in a fierce struggle with the government and its extension structures.
“The emphasis on the ’Gang of 5” was not only a reference to five companies, but also a reaction to the “Order of Privileged” created by the AKP government.
Yes, Erdoğan's era has created privileged people in the country in every sense. In transfers, promotions, tenders and hiring, someone was always favored.
As a result, while some began to live hand-to-mouth, the middle segments of society, which uphold democracy and ethical values, became poorer and poorer, and the poor became poorer and poorer. According to Kılıçdaroğlu, one of the most important reasons for our impoverishment was not only incompetent economic management but also wealth transfers of unknown origin. Erdoğan's incomprehensible economic policy led him to chase after money of unknown destination.
The issue of 128 billion dollars was one of them. However, at the end of his investigations, Kılıçdaroğlu claimed that the total amount he claimed had been stolen from the treasury over the years amounted to 418 billion dollars and said that assassination threats had increased after these findings.
On February 5, 2023, he addressed the Court of Accounts and said, “If I don't see 418 billion dollars in those reports when we come to power, it means that you have not fulfilled your duty properly. If I don't see 418 billion dollars in the report, I will burn you.” The government has never been able to give a satisfactory answer to Kılıçdaroğlu's allegations, instead resorting to montage videos during the elections. Likewise, the companies in question continued to support the AKP government to which their fate was tied.
“Gang of 5’ rhetoric weakened
As a result, the election was lost and the CHP administration changed after the “Change” signaled on the morning of the same day. The new CHP leadership did not mention the “Gang of 5’ and the missing 128 or 418 billion dollars as much as the Kılıçdaroğlu administration. Under the name of normalization, it was stated that the voters who voted for the government would also be won over, and it was claimed that harsh rhetoric, especially targeting Erdoğan, had backfired.
As a result, the CHP dropped the pursuit of the missing $128 billion, but the government, which has a knack for coming out on top like olive oil, this time went after the alleged exorbitant fees paid for concerts organized by the CHP-affiliated Ankara and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipalities through its inspectors.
Moreover, even though it is known that AKP municipalities spent many times more than the current concert expenditures.
In its attempt to normalize itself, the CHP has gone from being chased by the AKP government until two years ago to being chased by it.