HDP spokesperson Günay Kubilay said that the AKP-MHP policies were exposed with the election in Istanbul and pointed to Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan for a democratic solution.

“Local democracy should be strengthened”

“The trustees - said Kubilay - the AKP-MHP regime had appointed in the Kurdish provinces were sent to where they came from on 31 March. The AKP-MHP ruling bloc decided to re-run the election in Istanbul via the YSK. The people of Istanbul had already expressed their will, but their choice was usurped with a coup and elections were canceled. In the new elections, the people showed the AKP their reaction to that coup.”

Kubilay pointed out that Ekrem Imamoğlu won with a big difference and wished him success on behalf of the HDP. 

Talking about the expectation of the HDP as to local government policy, Kubilay said: “We expect that not only in Istanbul, but also in all cities where we support the winner with our vote, such as Adana, Mersin, Yalova, Izmir, there will be a strengthening of local democracy. In this context, we will monitor the coming process and evaluate the work of the local government. The winner in Istanbul was democracy.”

As to the importance of Mr. Öcalan, Kubilay said: “Every sentence Mr. Öcalan says from Imralı, every word he says is not superficial, but in a vicious party policy, it is necessary to deal with an historical perspective and not a selfish policy. The Kurdish people once again showed that Mr Öcalan is the interlocutor for the solution. So sit down and talk to Mr. Öcalan.”