HDP’s imprisoned Presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş sent a message to the party’s candidate promotion meeting and said, “It’s time to win now, not to be pushed down”.

The message Demirtaş sent from the Edirne Prison was read in the candidate promotion meeting. The message is as follows:

“My dear friends who decided to continue their struggle for democracy, peace and freedom as parliamentary candidates from the HDP, I celebrate you for this honorable, brave and proud decision and salute you all with love and enthusiasm.

Your stand with the HDP in the political struggle at a critical point in the struggle by the peoples of Turkey to create a just and equal life together has the potential to change the fate of all the oppressed, be sure of that.

You have taken on an important responsibility that will allow society under the fascistic practices of the one-man regime some breathing room and will remove obstacles on the path to democracy.

In our political struggle that has continued for long, long years, the June 24 elections mark a turning point now. You will be in the streets, on the squares from tomorrow onwards to turn the hopes accumulated with great labor and at a great price into permanent gains. I’m sure that wherever you go, you will be met with great interest and love from our poor people, our youth, women and workers. Because you are representatives of the people, who managed to say the king wears no clothes when it is hardest to do so. You are symbols of resistance against fascism, and a tall stance. Each one of you will represent this valuable mission as it should be, I have no doubt.

You will be shouldering the weight of the campaign with party discipline, the common democratic principles of the HDP and an awareness of responsibility, acting in an organized manner everywhere and avoiding the pitfalls our rivals expect with wide eyes, using the common language of peace and fraternity. We will be watching you with joy, excitement and pride from our cell here. As women and men, courageous children of our oppressed peoples, seeing you carry the warmth of hope for all of society will illuminate our cell, and we will be proud with every step you take.

It is now the time to win, not to be pushed down. Victory is just a step away, and you are the ones who will reach out and take it. Go on the field with great confidence. Unite with the people who you already live amongst, and give the great gift of democracy to the whole country on the night of June 24.

I know you can do it. So, godspeed! I congratulate each of you once again.”