HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan, former Mardin Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Türk, and members of the press elected from the Green Left Party met with members of the press in a hotel in Diyarbakır.
Making statements about the Presidential 2nd round of elections to be held on May 28, Buldan drew attention to the previous statements of Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, who signed a protocol with the Presidential candidate of the Nation Alliance and CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, “I am Ümit. I would like to express that both Özdağ and Sinan Ogan have made such a move between two alliances and in order to break many games by entering into two alliances. That’s why we don’t care what Ümit Özdağ says. We never get hung up on Ümit Özdağ’s racist and fascist rhetoric. The main thing for us is the promises made by Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu to the society. These are statements made by Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu before. They may have signed a protocol with Ümit Özdağ in order to win in the second round. But the main thing for us is the statements and promises made by Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu to the society before. This is their discourse on the issue of trustees, both about the solution of the Kurdish problem with democratic methods, and about the steps to be taken towards democratization in terms of Turkey’s future. We base it on and we look at it. That’s why Ümit Özdağ has been using racist and fascist rhetoric very widely lately. It shows once again the hostility towards the Kurdish people. He is trying to play some games on the Kurdish people. But we will never, never come to these games. Our main issue is the issue of democratization. Our main issue is the future of Turkey. Turkey’s democratization. That’s why racist rhetoric and fascist rhetoric do not have any binding aspect for us,” he said.
“LET’S VOTE IN THE SECOND ROUND, GO TO THE PEOPLE”
Calling the citizens to vote and to protect their votes, Buldan said, “We know that the elections held on May 14 were not held in a democratic environment under very equal conditions. However, despite all this, we, as the Green Left Party, think that we have achieved a success despite all these obstacles. In fact, the presidential election to be held on May 28 is a historical crossroads. We, as the Green Left, have already shared with the public that we, as the Green Left, will continue our stance in the second round, together with the statements we have made for 2 days. I once again make this call to the people of Diyarbakir. Let’s cast our votes in the second round. Let’s go to the ballot box. Let’s show our will and determination in the first round once again in the second round. Of course, creating an environment where all issues can be easily resolved, democratic steps can be taken, and Turkey can attain peace and tranquility, but also prosperity, depends, of course, on these elections, so that Turkey can breathe a sigh of relief and with Erdogan losing in the second round. If we can win in the second round, we will have built democracy. That’s why this will be such an important and historic election. The issue is of course not the Nation Alliance, the issue is not Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu. We only look at the issue as the future of Turkey. And we cast our vote for Turkey’s future. This is how we look at this issue. Therefore, I would like to repeat the call to the people of Turkey, to the Turkish society once again, to stand up for the ballot box, to protect their votes and to cast their votes here,” he said.
“NATIONALIST DISCUSSIONS CAUSED RESENT IN OUR PEOPLE”
Speaking later, the former Metropolitan Mayor of Mardin, Ahmet Türk, stated that the nationalist debates caused resentment and said:
“Recently, nationalist debates have inevitably caused resentment in our people. We are aware of this. I want to convey the following message to our people and our youth. Don’t come to the game. If you protest and do not go to the polls, you will be carrying water to the mill of the Erdogan government. You have to act with this awareness. Of course, our preference would be for Kılıçdaroğlu. For this reason, we see that there is resentment in our people as a result of nationalist rhetoric. We are experiencing the same frustration. But you shouldn’t be playing. We need to be at the ballot box as a whole in this election. The protocol put forward by Ümit Özdağ regarding the trustee has no meaning or importance for us. We are fighting for the permanent democracy in this country. Our attitude towards all anti-democratic developments will be the same. Whoever it is, our stance will be in favor of democracy. Our work and demands regarding the free future of the Kurdish people will always be on the agenda. Our basic demand for us is; Strengthening locals in Kurdistan. It is the beginning of a process in which the Kurdish people will have a say and a decision in a democratic Turkey. We are fighting this. Don’t get too hung up on the choices. Will Kılıçdaroğlu or Erdogan come? Our struggle will be the same. It is the continuation of the struggle we have been waging for 40 years. Of course, the Kurdish people paid a great price. It is not possible for the Kurdish people to take sides with those who are on the side of fascism and those who bring fascism to this country. The trustee issue is of course a mortgage on the will of the Kurdish people. We are aware of this. Whoever comes, we will reveal our attitude towards this mortgage. No lawsuit was filed against any of our friends in the local administrations, but after he became the mayor, lawsuits were filed and he became a suspect. Kurdish politicians are in prison, their immunity has been lifted. Of course, the opposition is not something that has come out of the milk, but we stay with Kılıçdaroğlu because we are in favor of 2 choices.”