A press conference was held at Taksim Hill Hotel about the signature campaign “Let the will of the people be recognized, let the elected presidents return to their duties” launched by the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Labor Assembly against the appointment of trustees. Labor, union organizations and political party representatives attended the press conference. A statement was read by Deniz Gider, Organization Manager of the Construction Workers’ Union (Inşaat-Iş). Gider said that workers who make a living from their labor are faced with a new problem every day, and added: “While the economic crisis turns into an opportunity for the bosses, it has become a burden for workers. Increasingly extended working hours, wages melting away in the face of inflation, insecurity, a cut in workers’ health and safety measures are some of the problems trade unions and workers are faced with every day. These problems are turning our lives into hell.”

Drawing attention to the fact that the appointment of trustees is an anti-democratic measure, Gider underlined that the trustees deepen political and social crises. He added: “Interfering with the will of the people without any legal justification and solely on allegations is an anti-democratic practice specific to coup regimes. This practice, which undermines the right to vote and be elected and ignores the will of the people, can only result in deepening the political and social crisis as well as the economic crisis. We, the trade unions, as well as the organizations signing this statement, want this practice to be stopped as soon as possible, the elected officials to be reinstated and the will of the people to be recognized.”

Among the 376 institutions, organizations and people that signed the HDK’s statement are:

Peoples’ Bridge Association, Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD), Friendship and Culture Association, Polen Ecology Collective, Group Bajar, Group Babetna, Group Munzur, Gölgedekiler, Grup Vardiya, Partizan, Socialists Party, Socialist Assemblies Federation (SMF), Independent Revolutionary Class Platform (BDSP), Socialist Re-establishment Party (SYKP), Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP), Science Education Aesthetics Culture Art Research Foundation (BEKSAV), Tourism, Entertainment and Service Workers Union (TEHİS), Revolutionary Socialist Workers Party (DSPI), Turkey Human Rights Foundation (THİV), Komün Magazine, Mesopotamia Culture Center (MKM), Yeni Yaşam, Jîn Art Culture Institution, Mayıs’ta Yaşam Cooperative, Yüz Çiçek Culture Center, Patriotic Revolutionary Circassian Movement, Citizen Initiative, Ankara Thought Freedom Initiative, Süryani Federation of Associations, Syriac Newspaper Sabro, Revolutionary Democratic Trade Union Union (DDSB), 10 October Peace Association, Karşı Art Works, Redphotography Initiative, Kiğı, Karakoçan, Adaklı, Yayladere, Yedisu districts Social Assistance and Solidarity Association (KAYY-DER), Say Stop to Racism and Nationalism Platform, We Are All Immigrants No to Racism Platform, Izmir Religious Scholars Assistance Association (İDAYDER), Free Art Assembly, Unity for Democracy (DIB), Art for Freedom Initiative, Environmental Volunteers Association, Bırca Belek Language and Culture Association, United Transportation Workers Union (BTS), Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions, Education and Science Workers Union (Eğitim Sen), All Municipality and Local Administration Services Workers Union (Tüm-Bel Sen), Health and Social Services Workers Union (SES), 78’liler Movement (Associations), Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), Human Rights Association (IHD).