DEM Party Erzurum (Erzirom) Metropolitan Municipality co-chair candidate Gülderen Varlı said that they believe that they will get very good results in the city because they are a party that respects all people and beliefs living in Erzurum and its districts and is based on equal service.

Varlı, who is also the DEM Party Van MP, was born in Erdiş in the province of Van (Wan). She graduated from primary, secondary and high school in Erdîş, and then studied accounting at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University. She served as DBP Erdîş Municipality deputy co-mayor in 2014, until a trustee was appointed.

Varlı also served as Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Van Provincial co-chair between 2019 and 2020, and later took part in the DBP Party Assembly. She also worked in Erzurum during this period, and was elected an MP for Van in the last general elections.

Speaking to ANF, Varlı said that the party election team is going to every house in the center and districts while working in the Erzurum region and added: "My approach is from a place that understands women, young and elderly people as well as children. I know this place as well as Van, and I can say that I'm a little bit from here too."

The service does not work much differently

Arguing that Turkish nationalism is more visible in the center of Erzurum and that Kurdish people live mainly in the districts, but the service to both of them does not work very differently, Varlı said: "We will govern Erzurum and its districts with the co-presidency system. We will approach with the color of women, the way of government of women, the aesthetic sense of women, and above all, we will govern the city together. We will manage the municipality together with the people. People should have the right to talk and decide about the streets, the market they go to, and the social space they live in. We will answer the question of what the people living in the city, neighbourhood and village want, exactly as required by our paradigm and style of government."

We will take our place in Erzurum

Varlı continued: "The DEM Party defends a people’s municipalism. We will take our place in Erzurum. We will present a form of municipalism that includes women's color, women's voice, and women's style of government. Unfortunately, the state sows the seeds of nationalism among the people. There is such a reality here. When we look at the villages, neighbourhoods and districts that the DEM Party won before, it is obvious what kind of policy we have adopted. We will put forward the style of government set out in our paradigm that brings all the differences together, without separating anyone from others."

It is also important for Kurdish history and culture

Varlı pointed out the importance of Erzurum's districts in terms of Kurdish history and culture and said: "Will we stand back or give up our struggle when trustees are appointed to our municipalities? We exist as Kurdish people and we are here. We continue to fight for this. They denied it, they did not accept it, they ignored it. Are we still here? Yes, we exist and we are doing our part. I am a Kurd, my homeland is Kurdistan. I will protect my own language. Municipalities are also ours. We will express our will in the best way possible. The municipalities they usurped will return in the hands of the DEM Party. We believe that this will happen with God's permission."

The mayor co-candidate said: "The AKP has made the Kurdish people suffer a lot for 21 years. They tried to impose on us their nationalism. No matter how much nationalism the AKP promotes, it will be of no use. The situation of Turkish society is also clear. Nationalism also ends somewhere."

Respect and equal service for everyone

Varlı concluded: "We are a party that respects all people and beliefs living here. We are a party based on equality. I believe we will get very good results. Now the tide must turn in Erzurum and DEM must come in. We will go to every citizen. We will explain ourselves as much as we can. We will win together."