DEM Party Co-Leaders Hatimoğulları and Bakırhan along with the party’s Central Executive Committee reacted to the new operations targeting CHP municipalities.
DEM Party Co-Leader Tülay Hatimoğulları stated regarding the operations, “The attempt to resolve political reckonings through judicial means and these practices targeting elected representatives are unacceptable. Respect for the decisions made by the people at the ballot box and recognition of the people’s will are essential,” she said.
In a statement on the social sharing platform X, Hatimoğulları condemned the operation against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and the detention of district leaders in Istanbul as well as Seyhan and Ceyhan mayors. She said, “The efforts to resolve political disputes through judicial means and these practices targeting elected representatives are unacceptable.” She emphasized the importance of respecting the decisions of the people at the ballot box and recognizing the people’s will, adding, “For social peace and a strong democracy, respect for the people’s will must be shown across our country, from Istanbul to Van, from Mardin to Adana, and these political operations must cease.”
DEM Party Co-Leader Bakırhan also reiterated their condemnation of the operations and detentions, stating, “We find these interventions unacceptable. These kinds of judicial operations targeting elected municipal leaders undermine social peace,” he said. Bakırhan also underlined that the way to analyze political problems is through negotiation and dialogue, stating, “We will continue to oppose any intervention that excludes democratic politics.”
Statement from the DEM Central Executive Committee
In the statement from the DEM Central Executive Committee, it was said, “The judicial intervention initiated against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on March 19 continues to expand. Unfortunately, these operations have far exceeded the scope of the allegations and have transformed into a sort of encirclement targeting opposition municipalities, primarily Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.”
The committee also pointed out that the judicial process has become aimed at neutralizing opposition municipalities, disrupting municipal services, and preventing public access to services. It was noted that the operations and judicial process have caused suffering for millions of citizens receiving municipal services and that the opposition-controlled municipalities are effectively punishing the people.
In the statement, it was also emphasized that the arrests and detentions carried out based on confessions and methods lacking legal legitimacy are serious violations of law and democracy. It was added that these acts are contrary to the sensitivities of the current historic period and are narrowing the scope of democratic politics.
The continuation of the statement notes, “Of course, our party advocates for the eradication of rent-seeking, corruption, and bribery in politics, especially in local administrations, and supports clean politics. However, limiting the actions to only opposition municipalities with such arguments and creating a shield for allegations of corruption and bribery in ruling municipalities discredits these arguments,” it said.
The statement also calls for an end to the operations and for the law to be applied fairly and impartially for everyone. It states, “Municipalities belong to the people; they are the backbone of local democracy. The judicial encirclement and blockade on municipalities must be lifted.”
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