BBP leader Destici defends trustee appointment: There is no other choice

Great Unity Party (BBP) Chairman Mustafa Destici claimed that the trustee appointed to the Hakkari Municipality is in accordance with the constitution and the law, stating, "Turkey is a state of law. You cannot say on one hand that 'Turkey is a state of law' and then almost revolt when Turkey applies the law. Now, the Ministry of Interior or the government is not appointing a trustee to one of our provinces for no reason. The Hakkari co-mayor, or the officially elected mayor, has been convicted; they are currently convicted. It is legally impossible for them to sit in the mayoral seat. You know a process took place in Van before. Now, what will happen when they are convicted? The same thing will be done there as well," he said.

"IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT IMPLEMENT THIS, IT WOULD BE COMMITTING A CRIME"

Destici said, "If the government does not implement this, if the Ministry of Interior does not implement this, then they would be committing a crime. A trustee must be appointed; there is no other choice."

"EVERYTHING IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW"

Continuing his speech, Destici said, "Currently, it is being said, 'Let a council member be elected from the assembly.' The law mandates, necessitates, and requires the appointment of a trustee. Because when is someone appointed from the municipal council? If there is a death or a resignation, then the council sits and elects one of its own as the mayor. But that is not the case here. Here, they are being removed from office due to a terror-related crime, and it is stated that a trustee will be appointed in their place. It does not say someone will be elected from the municipality. Therefore, everyone should look at the law and speak according to the law. In our view, there is no error in the trustee practices. Everything is carried out in accordance with the law, the constitution, and the legislation."

"NO STEP BACK SHOULD BE TAKEN"

BBP leader Destici concluded his remarks as follows:

The people's vote. Well, the vote of this city, the vote of that city. No one is saying anything about the vote; we all respect the vote. We all respect the citizens. But if they are a terror convict, if they have been convicted of terrorism, or if their connection to terrorism continues and they are allowing the municipality's resources to be used by a terrorist organization, or so to speak, handing them over, the state will not watch this. The state's officials, the people authorized by the state, or the ministries will not watch this. This is what it is, and the appointment of trustees is in accordance with the law, the constitution, and the rule of law. As the BBP, we see this as a part of the fight against terrorism. No step back should ever be taken, and wherever there is an elected official, even a mayor, who is linked to terrorism, they should be removed and a trustee should be appointed in their place.