HDP’s arrested Presidential Candidate Selahattin Demirtaş criticized the AKP government’s energy policies over his Twitter account and said, “We will cancel the nuclear power plant projects and HED projects that harm the historical and cultural fabric and nature.”

Demirtaş’s messages are as follows:

One of the biggest reasons for the inbalance in the economy and the current deficit is energy dependency. Almost all oil and gas is bought from foreign countries in foreign currencies. We must minimize the consumption of fossil fuels that harm both our wallets and our environment.

The first step for that is to start manufacturing solar panels in Turkey. In five years, we will reach the level to have every building produce its own power from the sun.

We will cancel nuclear power plant projects and Hydroelectric Dam (HED) projects that harm the cultural and historical fabric and nature. In a country that can benefit from the sun so much, we won’t allow the squandering of this opportunity and burying billions in nuclear power plants to endanger our future.

We will end all giant expenses for excess, luxury and pageantry. For instance, we will cancel the summer palace project that is being built in Marmaris and has caused the death of hundreds of thousands of trees, and restore the area. For this matter, I have a favor to ask of you.

They say 400.000 trees have been cut down for the summer palace. I kindly request that everybody plant at least one tree, if not in Marmaris, then anywhere else in Turkey, and thus help compensate for the arbicide. I never asked for material support for my campaign to date. Imagine that you are donating to my campaign account. Each one of you, go plant one tree and send photos to me over social media. If you want, you can just plant in your own front yard, but please do.

As the sapling you plant grows, our fraternity, our democracy, our hopes and our dreams will grow together. Don’t forget to give the water of life for the sapling, otherwise it can’t hold on to the soil. Then our hopes may fade. Give the water of life to our future as well, say 1 vote for HDP 1 vote for Demirtaş, so hope doesn’t fade.”