Moments that defined the group meeting: Ali Babacan unveils the ballot paper the government wants on stage
Speaking on behalf of his party at the New Path Group meeting, DEVA Party leader Ali Babacan criticized AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Unveiling a mock ballot paper featuring photos of Erdoğan on stage, Babacan stated, This is the ballot paper of the government's dreams and fantasies.
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DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan made significant remarks regarding the current agenda at his party's New Path Group meeting.
The most talked-about moment of the meeting was the ballot paper Babacan displayed. Saying, "This is a gift from the DEVA Party youth to the group meeting here," Babacan showed a ballot from the podium. It was notable that the ballot in question featured only photos of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Babacan said the following in his speech:
“By eliminating the ballot box, which is the sole source of its legitimacy, the government has effectively pulled its own plug, leaving itself defenseless and powerless. It is rendering the democracy it relies on so heavily meaningless. When the time and place come, our nation will give this government the necessary response when the first ballot box is placed before them.
There is no harm in saying it. I want to show you what the government understands by the ballot box. I want to share with you what kind of ballot paper they want to see when election day arrives. Here you go, the ballot paper that best describes the government's understanding of democracy is right here. It is a gift from the DEVA Party youth to the group meeting here. This is the ballot paper of their dreams and fantasies, this is the point they want to bring Turkey to! You want a ballot box? Take the box, my friend, but you have no other choice. Stamp your seal under whoever you want, you are free.
That is freedom right there. We would like to present this ballot paper to you on behalf of our young friends who are being held in prison unjustly for standing up for democracy. Our friends have also written a note on the back: ‘Just as those who stood against the nation were defeated, just as the February 28th proponents were defeated, you too will be defeated. We will also get the young people who are being held in prisons unjustly out of there. It is the new generation that will put an end to this government. Signed: DEVA Youth.’”