The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) released a written statement about the usurpation of the newly elected co-mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, Abdullah Zeydan.

The statement released by the DEM Party Central Executive Board includes the following:

"Our party achieved a historic victory in the local elections held on March 31, 2024, in Van. The people of Van entrusted all fourteen municipalities, including the Metropolitan Municipality, to the DEM Party, establishing it as the leading party in the Provincial General Assembly by a significant margin. The electorate of Van expressed their resolute will decisively at the ballot box, a resounding response to the trustee regime.

Despite such a clear mandate from the public, new illegal actions are being implemented in Van, as they were in many HDP municipalities following the 2019 elections. In the Metropolitan Municipality, where the DEM Party received 55% of the vote and the AKP just 27%, our elected DEM Party Co-Mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, Mr. Abdullah Zeydan has been denied office and replaced by the AKP candidate.

As is widely known, Mr. Zeydan, completed all requisite legal procedures and successfully secured candidacy approval from the Supreme Election Board (YSK) after rigorous scrutiny. Mr. Zeydan garnered substantial support from the people of Van and was duly elected.

However, merely five minutes before the close of business on Friday, March 29, 2024, and a mere two days before the election, the Ministry of Justice, via an administrative decision and correspondence, contested the legal credentials of Mr, Zeydan, who had been restored his full civil rights by a court decision when released from prison in 2022. Following Friday’s administrative decision and objection letter, which was essentially a directive, the authorized prosecutor's office resubmitted the matter to the court that had issued the decision to restore his civil rights two years ago. That same day, the court revoked their own previous decision and dismissed Mr Zeydan’s civil rights application; and they pre-emptively informed the YSK prior to the formalisation of their new reversed decision, thus curtailing the right to object and appeal.

The very court that had initially ruled in favor of restoring the civil rights of our Co-Mayor Mr. Abdullah Zeydan reversed its decision. This manoeuvre reflects a mentality that disregards the mandate of the people. Mr. Zeydan rightfully holds the position of Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor, as bestowed upon him by the people of Van.

We urge all parties to acknowledge this fact. This erroneous ruling must be promptly overturned. Such actions, which flout the will of the people of Van, are unlawful.

We call upon all supporters of democratic principles to condemn this course of action. Respecting the will of the people is fundamental to the essence of democracy.

We demand that the government honour the mandate of the people!"