HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli, dedicated some time to the press on Sunday and answered some questions to ANF.

Temelli commented on the situation of the political prisoners , AKP’ stance on Kurds and the HDP in this election campaign, Kurdistan economic reality and the political genocide attacks against the parties.

Pointing out at the high number of political people in prison, Temelli emphasized that they were all charged with meaningless and false accusations for actually carrying out democratic politics. 

Reforming the judiciary system

“If you are looking for democracy in Turkey, you have to address the decisions taken in the past”, said Temelli, adding: “We need to normalise the court system in Turkey. We call for a separation of forces, universal law. If we are able to set this up, prisons will be emptied. Turkey's democracy when configuring judicial independence and impartiality, has to review all laws, especially criminal law. Once these laws are reviewed, many people who are in prison today will regain their freedom”.

Economy will get better with democracy

Responding to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said that the Kurdish political movement is a factor of economic problems in Kurdistan, Temelli said: “The AKP has been in power for 16 years. All the economic programs they implemented have actually been unsuccessful. They applied incentives to the region six times, and the regional economy was worse than before. Economic problems in certain places, of course, are connected with politics and democracy. But the cause of these problems - said Temelli - is neither the HDP nor the people of the region. The cause of this is Erdogan, is the AKP, and his pursue of the one-man regime instead of democracy”. 

Temelli added: “When democracy develops in a country, the economy of that country travels on a healthy path. If there is no democracy, the economy is dragged into collapse. This has been experienced in the history of all countries of the world included Turkey. The higher the level of democracy in Turkey, the better the economy develops. When you go from democracy to dictatorial regimes, the economy will turn upside down. This is the reality”.

Solving the Kurdish question will help economy

Looking at the last 16 years, Temelli said, it is possible to see where the economy is coming and where is going.

“They say they are the seventeenth largest economy. That was the same 16 years ago. After all these spending and investments, after 16 years, you are actually at the same place. This is - Temelli said - because you cannot see the relation between economic development and democratic development.

The only way democracy can develop in Turkey, is with the solution of the Kurdish question. If you do not solve the Kurdish question, economy will not improve”. 

Temelli pointed out that in fact it was not only a problem of the Kurdish region: “Go to Izmir, Antalya, Thrace and Black Sea - he said - and you will find the same problems. So, you have the HDP around here, fine, why then is the people of Black Sea so poor? Why is there so much economic problem in the Black Sea? Erdogan is accusing the HDP, he is still trying to get the Kurds confused at the time of vote. But Kurds' political experience and consciousness are so high that they have strong memories and they don’t get confused. Apparently though, Erdogan is the one very confused”.

AKP violating any legislation

Underlining the political genocide attacks the AKP is carrying out against all parties, Temelli said that the government is actually violating the existing legislation. 

“Most of these current laws are anti-democratic laws, heritage of the military coup of 12 September 1980. The Constitutional Court is trying to stand up by putting pressure on other courts and judges. We know that these elections will not be elections contested on fair and equal terms. Despite all this, we will get rid of Erdogan on 24 June. We have such a determination”. 

Temelli reminded that there are “Seven thousands of our friends are under arrest. I do not even count the prisoners. However, we were able to get 250,000 friends up and running for these elections. This is our strength and organization. Such is the base and the organization of the HDP. So let's keep ourselves safe and continue to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the 24 June elections, believing that we will overcome the threshold”.

We have hope and we have voice

Temelli, who said that the AKP government is carrying out black propaganda against the HDP, concluded with his words: "They are carrying out a psychological war against us. Our people should know Erdogan well by now. There is nothing Erdogan can promise and he has no way to go. He entered a dead end street. The promises he made in 2002 he is repeating them now. He is constantly trying to open his way with hate speech. We will counter all this by voicing the gaining of hope, love and democracy”.