The DEM Party Central Executive Board issued a written statement regarding the candidate discussions in Istanbul.

The statement reads as follows:

"Our party, within the scope of local election activities, has decided to appear before the public with its candidates all over Turkey where consensus has not been achieved, and has shared this with the public.

Naturally, the most discussed place among all electoral districts is Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. In this context, our party also specifically addressed Istanbul and comprehensive discussions were held in our authorized boards.

The presence and declaration of will of all our valuable friends who were named as candidates for Istanbul gave strength and morale to our party and our base. Among these names, the name of our friend, Dear Başak Demirtaş, stood out the most in public opinion. The support given to our party by our friend Başak Demirtaş regarding her candidacy for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has undoubtedly added great strength to us.

We have been in consultation with Ms. Başak, who has strengthened us by supporting our party's election policies with her declaration of will for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality candidacy, from the beginning of the process. Our authorized committees evaluated the developments by discussing all the options at this stage and came together with Ms. Başak and agreed in full harmony and coordination that she should not be a candidate.

Our pre-candidates for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will be shared with the public in the coming days.

We thank dear Başak Demirtaş with all our confidence for her contributions, and we know that she will continue to provide support in the next part of the process.

We specifically request that no statements other than the official statements of our party regarding the candidacy for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality be taken into account and that no grounds be given for speculation. We will continue to walk shoulder to shoulder with all our comrades in prison and exile, without compromising the fight for democracy."

CANDIDACY STATEMENT FROM BAŞAK DEMİRTAŞ

Başak Demirtaş, whose name was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), also said in a statement: "We have reached a common consensus with our party that my declaration of candidacy for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality should not turn into an application.

All our people and party members should know that all decisions were taken in full harmony and coordination with our party. The candidates that our party will announce in the coming days will be the candidates of all of us, and we will stand behind these valuable friends with all our strength and work for the success of our party."