Response from DEM's Bakırhan to the İmamoğlu - Yavaş question

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan made statements regarding the current agenda during a television program he attended.

Speaking to Talat Atilla from Tv100, Bakırhan gave messages regarding the new resolution process initiated by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli and continued with the call for disarmament by terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan.

"BAHÇELİ BROKE THE MOLD"

Thanking MHP leader Bahçeli, Bakırhan said, "All parties and their representatives who call themselves patriots should have addressed this issue much earlier. Mr. Bahçeli broke the mold on that matter. We thank him for that."

REACTION TO NEW CONSTITUTION AND 400 MP CLAIMS

Bakırhan reacted to claims that the People's Alliance, formed by the AKP and MHP, is trying to secure the 400 parliamentary seats needed for support for a new constitution in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) regarding the new resolution process, stating the following:

"Whose agenda is 400? Calculating who will be elected where again in 5 years? I am speaking here on behalf of a tradition in Turkey that has had 12 political parties shut down. A 200-year-old issue is being discussed here. What 400, whose agenda is 400? We are not that kind of movement. What do we want? Let the Kurd speak their mother tongue freely. Not just the Kurd, let the Laz speak, let the Chechen speak, let the Circassian speak, let the Arab speak."

When asked, "You will get an appointment from Mr. Erdoğan. What will you talk to him about?" Bakırhan replied, "Consultation is very important in this process. Of course, it needs to be discussed and talked about mutually. This process has certain requirements. Öcalan made a call, and the armed side also responded. They said, 'We support it with all our heart.' It is necessary to talk about the process proceeding correctly. There are some requirements for the PKK to convene its congress. One must look at the big picture."

WILL THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK LEAVE ITS WEAPONS TO THE US?

Upon Atilla's question, 'Where will the PKK leave its weapons? Will they give them to the US?', Bakırhan said, "Why would they leave them to the US? The state needs to fulfill certain requirements. We are also asking these questions. Öcalan himself called this process a 'Turkey solution' in İmralı. This is our problem. Where will these people leave the weapons? Who will take delivery? We don't know either, the state is likely working on this issue."

"WE ARE A PARTY THAT HAS THE AMBITION TO GOVERN TURKEY"

Speaking about the presidential elections, Bakırhan stated that they would never openly support a party, saying, "We are a party that has the ambition to govern Turkey; why should we be a sidekick to anyone?"

İMAMOĞLU OR YAVAŞ? "WE FEEL AN AFFINITY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC ONE"

Bakırhan gave the following response to the question, "Who are you closer to?" regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş:

"I would like to speak without naming names. We feel an affinity for the democratic one, we feel an affinity for the one who will bring democracy. We feel an affinity for the one who will democratize Turkey. Our main compass is democracy. As for the other matter, we do not take sides among the candidates of the parties. We mind our own business; we want to go to the election with our own candidate."