Invited to the presidential palace by President Abdullah Gül who stepped in the controversy over the political decision by the Elections Board to exclude 12 independent candidates from the 12 June elections, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) Former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas canceled the meeting with the President today at 19.00 due to the events in Bismil/Diyarbakýr where one demonstrator lost his life, tens got wounded and hundreds were taken into custody after the police attack on the mass march to protest YSK’s veto decision. Demirtaþ gave the President a call to inform him that he will not be able to attend the meeting.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil