People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan held a press conference at the party's headquarters about the party's Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting.

Doğan talked about the primary elections held in the past weeks in several cities to determine the candidates to the local elections to be held on 31 March and said: "This process has been completed. We have said before in these primary elections, which were held as an example of direct democracy in the Kurdish provinces, that we not only select our mayors and candidates, our provincial council members were also voted by the people. We said that we would respect the results of the primary elections, evaluate the objections, and when irregularities were detected, we would activate the relevant mechanisms established and leave the decision to the initiative of the people, taking into account these objections and irregularities. We did our part. The people also did their part. We have now started preparations to publically present the candidates. We will hold a meeting in Amed on Monday, 29 January.”

Doğan added: “This is the first time we are holding such a primary election process and that's why we said there may have been some shortcomings. We talked about a serious local democracy experience. Be assured that your findings will be guiding for the DEM Party, coming from a political party tradition that hears and values criticism, suggestions, deficiencies and shortcomings."

Giving information about the cities of interest, Ayşegül Doğan said: "Istanbul, Adana, Muğla, Aydın, Kars, Mersin, Hatay, Dêrsim are not the cities we specifically chose, but these are the provinces about which people are most curious about. They keep asking what will the DEM Party do in Istanbul, in Adana, in Muğla? As we have explained before, we are aware of this situation, therefore, we are working in a serious and responsible way.

All options are being evaluated. In addition, our collaboration efforts within the scope of Urban Consensus continue. A lot of progress has been made in this regard so far. However, we proceed carefully and consider the options that will benefit the people.”

No Dersim without DEM, no DEM without Dersim

Doğan continued: “While our multifaceted negotiations continue as a party in favor of the broadest union of forces, a statement regarding Dersim has been made. We know that Dersim cannot exist without DEM and DEM cannot exist without Dersim. In Dersim, EMEK Party, Socialist Assemblies Federation (SMF), Labor and Freedom Front, and Turkish Workers' Party announced their decision to work to establish an alliance in the 31 March elections. Our negotiations are continuing. As DEM Party, we continue our work on the basis of the urban reconciliation strategy. Dersim, among these provinces, has a special importance for us. Because, let's remember that Dersim is one of the provinces that was taken from us by trustees in the previous period."

If Başak Demirtaş wants to be a candidate, her address is DEM Party

Ayşegül Doğan also talked about Başak Demirtaş's possible candidacy in Istanbul, and said: "Başak Demirtaş is our comrade. She worked in the fields for the elections of 14-28 May. If Başak Demirtaş wants to get involved in politics, of course it will be with the DEM Party. I think it would be surprising otherwise. Başak Demirtaş herself expressed it clearly, when she said, 'I have not received such a proposal from our party, but should it come, I am ready.' So, clearly, if one day she wants to do politics or become a candidate, the address is the DEM Party."