HEDEP to continue holding talks with CHP, AKP despite critiques

Duvar English

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP) Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan have said in a meeting with journalists that as the third largest party in the country, they will continue to meet with all parties on various issues despite critiques.

The party chairs conveyed their dissatisfaction regarding the revealed protocol between the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the far-right Victory Party (ZP). The protocol, signed before the second round of the presidential elections, outlined the continuation of municipal trusteeship, sparking discontent among the chairs.

In the 2019 local elections, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the predecessor of HEDEP, won the mayorships of 65 municipalities in total yet, the government appointed trustees to 59 of them.

''There is a serious disturbance in our party base regarding the protocol. We are talking about a presidential candidate signing a protocol that marks the continuation of the centuries-old state policy in the second century of the republic,” the co-chairs stated as accounted by Murat Sabuncu from online news outlet T24 who participated in the meeting.

Hatimoğulları and Bakırhan stated that this protocol is a "document of shame,” and added, "The protocol has created resentment against the future collaborations that we will make (with the CHP), we are not talking about the elections yet, it is not an obstacle. We will sit down and talk.”

The co-chairs also emphasized their readiness to engage in discussions with the government regarding the constitutional amendment proposal. They addressed criticisms about negotiating with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) by stating, "We negotiate with everyone."

The co-chairs criticized the characterization of HEDEP's meetings with ministers or other parties in parliament as a "sign of Kurds backtracking."

“Which promises have the Kurds and HDP backtracked on so far? How did this concern arise? Which of our words, which of our actions served this purpose? We are also surprised by the perception that we will sit down with any party to "negotiate with them through backdoor diplomacy" by organizing a formal meeting.”

The HEDEP stated that they could hold talks with everyone to reach a solution as the third biggest party in the country.