Turkey’s politics is based on the one-man regime. The way to overcome this crisis is local democracy. It is the participation of the public in the administration itself. And Kurds will be leading this political struggle."
HDP Co-Chair Sezai Temelli spoke at the meeting in Amed to mark the launch of the party's Amed Election Manifesto.
Temelli underlined that President Erdoğan is showing at his election rallies ‘proofs’ of HDP representatives using hate speeches and said: “Why don’t you show us your 2014 videos?”
The people are looking for a President but cannot find him
Temelli said: "Democracy is one of the most important issues faced by Turkey. We are saying democracy against fascism, we call for freedom and decentralization. Our party and our people are constantly converted into targets, by the President himself and by the ruling power.
The Presidential Government System cannot tolerate the very existence of democratic institutions. It ignores the separation of powers, ignores the will of the people.
Those who defend democratic politics are in prison and are under threat. The local authorities, in which the people participated, were ignored by the trustees.”
In Turkey, Temelli said, “people are looking for a President, but they cannot find him. Because the President of this country opens the eyes in the morning and goes to bed in the evening spending the day cursing and spreading hate speech.”
Temelli continued; “Erdoğan said that the 20 million Kurds living in this country could ‘go away’. He said they are terrorists. He makes all kinds of accusations, and then he says, ‘I didn't say anything like that’. Show us those videos and let’s see what you said. Show us what? For example show us the 2014 videos.
In 2014, when going to the local elections, while going to celebrate Newroz, what kind of political climate was the country in that day, show us what you were saying that day. What you said is in the archives. We are saying today what we were saying in 2014.”
We will win more municipalities
Temelli said he is “confident that the HDP will win many more municipalities on 31 March. We will come to power in local government and this will open the way for the strengthening of local democracy in Turkey. We gave people the option of democracy.”
Turkey is in a deep crisis
Temelli reiterated that Turkey is finding itself in a very deep crisis. “Our struggle for local democracy - he said - will be shaped by three main pillars. Today, Turkey is in deep three-legged crisis. The way to overcome this starts from the local.
First of all, Turkey is in a deep political crisis. Turkey’s politics is based on the one-man regime, people are getting away from politics. The way to overcome this crisis is local democracy. It is the participation of the public in the administration itself. And Kurds will be leading this political struggle opening the way for all the peoples in these lands.”
