In Northern Kurdistan, trustees have been appointed to 45 HDP-run municipalities. Thirteen political parties and organizations in Turkey have issued a joint declaration on the issue, which says the following:

"The constitutionally guaranteed right to elect and be elected has been violated once again. The will manifested by the people in the local elections has thus been usurped. The political rulers have appointed trustees to a further five HDP-run municipalities which they did not win the elections and can only take over through unlawful tyranny.

Previously, six municipalities won by the HDP in the local elections had been usurped via the illegal emergency decrees. The number of trustees appointed to HDP-ruled municipalities has risen to 45. The mayors have been removed from office without finalized court orders, and some of them have been imprisoned.

The trustee system ignores the will of over three million voters. As a result, the government is extending its illegal action against all opposition local governments. Mayors of opposition parties are deposed and local administrations are prevented from meeting the needs of the people in total disregard of the law.

The government tries to render local governments inactive by appointing trustees and restricting local powers. The appointment of trustees has become a method of the government designed to suppress the political opposition, eliminate the will of the electorate and prevent the local organisation of the population.

We stand against this attitude of the government which goes against the constitution and law. The suspended mayors must be returned to their posts and the repression against local authorities must be stopped.

We will not remain silent on the violation of the right to elect and be elected, ignorance of the will of the voters and attempts to eliminate local governments.”

Signatory parties and organisations

Democratic Regions Party (Demokratik Bölgeler Partisi, DBP)

Revolutionary Party (Devrimci Parti)

Labor Party (Emek Partisi, EMEP)

Socialist Party of the Oppressed (Ezilenlerin Sosyalist Partisi, ESP)

People’s Houses (Halkevleri)

Peoples’ Democratic Party (Halkların Demokratik Partisi, HDP)

Left Party (Sol Parti)

Socialist Solidarity Platform (Sosyalist Dayanışma Platformu, SODAP)

Socialist Refoundation Party (Sosyalist Yeniden Kuruluş Partisi, SYKP)

Social Freedom Party (Toplumsal Özgürlük Partisi, TÖP)

Workers’ Party of Turkey (Türkiye İşçi Partisi, TİP)

Communist Party of Turkey (Türkiye Komünist Partisi, TKP)

Greens and Left Future Party (Yeşiller ve Sol Gelecek Partisi)