DEM Party Istanbul Mayoral Candidate Meral Danış addresses withdrawal rumors

Key highlights from Beştaş's statements are as follows:

Ultimately, as a political party, we naturally enter elections. This applies to all elections. We are currently the third-largest party in Parliament. Even though trustees have been appointed, we have municipalities that we have won. What is legitimate and natural is for every party to enter elections.

This was discussed a lot, partly due to the Presidential system. Alliances became mandatory. We made a one-time decision in 2019. That is not a decision for eternity, after all. We made that decision to pave the way for democracy. It was a strategic approach based on making others lose or win.

We made such a decision due to the periodic atmosphere, the political situation, and the current deadlock, following intense discussions within our boards. Today, we have decided to enter the election as a party. The essential thing is for parties to compete. That was an exception. We made a strategic decision for that period. As for this period, this is our decision. We have returned to normal, in quotes. The essential thing is to enter with our own identity.

"WE DID NOT SEE STRONG SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE TRUSTEES"

There is a lot of discussion about us without us. Now, our name has changed due to legal constraints. The DEM Party is talked about by mainstream media every day without interruption. There is a lot of widespread discussion such as 'Who will the DEM Party make win, who will it make lose, did it make a deal with the government?' The politically disturbing aspect is this; our party is talked about more during election periods.

When the election period ends, the existing pressures, illegalities, and our imprisoned friends, Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak, remain. Kışanak is currently in Kandıra Prison. She has long exceeded the 7-year maximum detention period, but she cannot conduct her campaign for the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidacy. For example, I said that we did not see strong support and solidarity against the trustees. The DEM Party is, of course, Turkey's party. It receives the most votes from Kurds. Kurds are discussed during the election period.

Kurdish votes are valued the most. The issue of who they will vote for. We want to explain not only during election periods but also what kind of model the DEM Party's policy and roadmap envision for Turkish society. Ultimately, we came to Istanbul with a claim. We are entering the Metropolitan Municipality mayoral race with a co-mayor and lists, and we are fighting.

BAŞAK DEMİRTAŞ'S CANDIDACY

First of all, we shared the issue of Başak Demirtaş not being a candidate with the public. Chairman Selahattin also wrote a long text. He expressed his views on the subject. Başak also stated that she would not be a candidate in agreement with our party. This was not a unilateral decision. Dear Başak and Mr. Selahattin are our friends and comrades. We are in the same party. Let's remember the discussions in the public eye when she announced she could be a candidate. We truly saw the bottom of politics. Terrible lynchings, criticisms, and other attacks came to the agenda. 

Politics was seen as trade. We will not let any of our friends be used as material, in quotes. It even went as far as saying 'they are nominating his wife so that Selahattin Demirtaş can be released.' We do this with the dream of a Turkey where everyone is free. Our party was aware of this issue. It was sat down and discussed at length, and a mutual understanding was reached. If we really wanted to make someone win, we wouldn't have fielded a candidate. It is not about Başak or Meral. 

We set out to win. It might be said, 'The vote percentages are clear, you won't win anyway.' For us, politics is not necessarily about sitting in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality chair. For us, winning is talking to you right now. Today we went to Hacıahmet, we embraced. For us, winning is telling the truth to Turkey. That is why this candidacy happened. I can give the clearest answer to this question as follows: Comparing me with dear Başak is a bad thing. I can say with peace of mind that even if the Istanbul voter sees Başak Demirtaş on that ballot, they will stamp it if they see Meral Danış Beştaş. There is no distinction between us. I want to say this to those who conduct these discussions.

"WE ALL MUST HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE VOTER"

First of all, we are not anyone's intermediary. We want to appeal to our own voters, our target audiences, and the millions who have not voted for us. We have candidates in all metropolitan cities, including Izmir, Adana, and Bursa. The issue is not 'no one can come between us and the Kurdish voter.' There shouldn't be anyone in between anyway. We all must have direct contact with the voter. As someone who has worked on human rights in the past, I think even separating them as Kurdish voters is discrimination. Humanity is discussed with political preferences. It is true, Kurds are discriminated against, they have demands and troubles. We cannot speak 3 sentences of Kurdish in Parliament. What do Kurds want? This needs to be discussed. Conversely, during the election period, we are discussing 'how will the Kurdish voter vote?'

"WE SET OUT TO WIN"

I have been in Istanbul for the fourth week. We are in the field. I honestly haven't observed any slippage. We can talk to our voters at length. These questions are asked from a place that truly follows Turkish politics and knows what everyone aims for. There are many channels broadcasting. We set out to win. We want our own votes.

We are conducting a campaign to prevent that slippage. I am saying this in quotes, regarding the possibility of slippage, ultimately, we are asking for votes and support while contacting social segments and the population. There is a great reaction to the government among conservative voters. I see it in Erzurum, Diyarbakır, and Mardin. In terms of religious sensitivities, what is done to the Kurds is seen as persecution.

Burcu Köksal made divisive, racist remarks. We see these reactions. Just as Kurds take into account the approach towards them when making their political preferences, they also observe these things.

"OUR GOAL IS TO DO THE MOST INTENSE AND WIDESPREAD WORK"

Ultimately, we entered the elections to get the highest number of votes. In truth, life itself exerts pressure. These studies, discussions. I cannot say that I am specifically affected by this. Rather than 'we must get this many votes for our prestige,' it is about doing the most intense and widespread work we can. If possible, to express ourselves everywhere in Istanbul. To be able to get returns on this in terms of votes, words, and support. This is our goal.

"THE DEM VOTER'S VOTE IS UNPREDICTABLE"

We did not have a survey conducted, we may consider it in the coming days. All polling companies are working for us. The DEM voter's vote can never be predicted. Unfortunately, we have been facing a policy of uninterrupted pressure through the DEM Party since November 4, 2016. In 2019, Demirtaş was in Edirne. In 2023, on May 14-28, Figen Yüksekdağ and Gültan Kışanak were in Kandıra. For the first time, members of parliament were arrested in this parliament through constitutional amendments and political cases. They should not be inside. The voter sees this. They may act with other motivations. 

We are pursuing a policy of peace. Thousands of people are currently in prison. Actually, the zigzag is a bit of a factor in local elections, let's not call it inconsistency. Even village heads (muhtars) in the region are affected. Muhtars move votes to their own villages. Ultimately, the preference may change in terms of facilitating their life in Istanbul.

Vote percentages change in local elections. The candidate difference and the audience they appeal to may change. Ankara is an example of this. It is in its nature. The Istanbul voter may think differently on some issues after all. I want to say this in this election. This election is not just an Istanbul election. We are strongly demonstrating our existence in terms of the policy we are pursuing in this election. We are pursuing a policy of peace. Our presence is very important for democratization to occur. There is a very important thing in the cities where Kurds live; voter transportation. The opposition does not stand by us either. The government transported them too. 8 thousand votes were moved in Siirt. What I mean is, in the face of what is being done, let us give our votes to ourselves everywhere, in Istanbul, Diyarbakır, and Siirt.

HOW DOES THE CITY CONSENSUS WORK?

The city consensus does not happen between parties. It is more about the demands flowing to us from the local level. For example, Adana, Mersin. Let me say for Esenyurt, Mersin. In local structures, NGOs and women's organizations say, 'Let's reach a consensus here, let's reach a consensus on municipal council memberships.' Proposals emerge on this. There are candidates from our party, let's say there are also from the CHP. There are those who have nothing to do with either party but want to take part in the municipal council. We underline here that we say it is not an alliance.

There is no alliance with anyone in this election. If there were, we would say it with peace of mind. In 2019, we announced our support without an alliance. We announced it as the opposition force that could win against the government. Do we have such an announcement now? We are candidates. I am a candidate. We are working day and night on the streets.

To get votes and consolidate our voters. We have done a lot in the past, such as city consensus and democracy alliance. We entered as the Freedom Alliance on May 14-28. We care a lot about walking together with friends, NGOs, and democratic dynamics.

"I DID NOT ASK FOR VOTES FOR ANOTHER PARTY, AND I WOULD NOT"

I am calling out to the people of Esenyurt, our voters, and all Esenyurt residents, give us your vote in the metropolitan city. Our district organization is working for this right now. We are competing in the metropolitan city. I am only conducting our own work. There are districts where we do not have candidates. I went to a rally in Esenyurt. I did not ask for votes for another party, and I would not. I am a co-mayoral candidate for the metropolitan municipality. I am asking for votes for myself. Those who are municipal council members from our party due to the consensus will of course carry out that work.

"THERE IS NO CITY CONSENSUS IN ANKARA"

There is no strategic equation outside of Esenyurt. I don't know who is on those lists and who is not. Our districts where we fielded candidates are here. We are strongly conducting intensive Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality work here and in all other districts. Because we are in this race. We would of course like the city consensus in Esenyurt to reach success. We would like this again in Mersin. There is no bargaining here. If there were, why would we field a candidate? Why would we compete? Ultimately, there were meetings in Izmir as well. Since we did not reach a result, we have a candidate. Ankara is before our eyes, it is like this in Istanbul too. It is also a bit about not dividing the power and focusing on the metropolitan city. There was a misunderstanding, there is no city consensus in Ankara.

"I WILL NOT ENTER A RACE I WILL WITHDRAW FROM"

City consensus is a closed topic. It closed after the lists were submitted. I will not withdraw from the candidacy. This is being talked about. The bad part is that even if it is an exception, it is sometimes asked among the public. Because it is discussed on television. A specter like 'they will withdraw in the last three days, in the last week' is circulating. I will not enter a race I will withdraw from. No matter how many votes we get, we will continue our work until the last day. We will be at the ballot boxes. Of course, we expect support from all our voters on this issue.

We worked hard on our declaration regarding Istanbul. We met with Prof. Naci Görür. Of course, a resilient city. We wrote the solution methods for this. Earthquake, transportation, urban transformation. We are a party that advocates for on-site transformation. We truly care about Istanbul. The problems in Istanbul are our problems. I am the only female candidate in Istanbul. I am a co-mayoral candidate. A gender-sensitive budget. And to govern Istanbul with Istanbulites. We will celebrate the Nevruz Festival in Yenikapı on March 17. I invite everyone.

News Source: 12punto