A delegation consisting of DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, Deputy Co-Chairs Özlem Gündüz and Mahfuz Güleryüz, and Central Executive Committee member Emirali Türkmen visited the CHP headquarters and met with party leader Özgür Özel in Ankara on Sunday.

Speaking at the joint press conference after the meeting. Tülay Hatimoğulları spoke out against the wave of detentions and arrests targeting CHP-run municipalities, calling it “a blow to the will of the people.”

'The trustee mentality is maintained in other ways'

Calling for the immediate release of those detained and imprisoned, Hatimoğulları said, "We see these operations as a continuation of the trustee mentality. Our party understands this best. As a party that has had trustees appointed to its municipalities for three terms, we see that the trustee mentality is maintained in other ways. I would like to emphasize that these operations are politically motivated. If there are allegations of corruption, and if there is evidence to support them, then, of course, investigations can be launched."

'The operations are political'

Hatioğulları continued: “Our proposal is for a commission to be formed, for independent judiciary to be involved, and for an investigation to be conducted not only into the municipalities of the opposition parties but also into those of the ruling party. Whatever justification is given for these operations, they are demonstrably political. We strongly recommend that the municipalities taken over by trustees are also investigated. We have significant experience in this matter from the past. If you look at the reports by the Court of Accounts, you can see the blatant and obvious corruption committed by the trustees in the previous terms.

Today we are talking about the Peace and Democratic Society Process. We are on the eve of resolving the Kurdish question. And in such a process, when we are talking about peace and disarmament, it is unfortunate that experiencing these issues and witnessing these operations is not good for Turkey’s society. We can see that questions such as “Is this how peace and democratization will be achieved in Turkey?” are being raised from all corners of the country. Especially with yesterday’s operation against three metropolitan municipalities, we all witnessed how the intensity and tone of these questions have risen significantly.

'These operations weaken our belief in peace and democracy'

A disarmament ceremony will take place in the Federal Kurdistan Region in a few days. While discussing the resolution of an issue that has become chronic in this country for 100 years, the fact that we are suddenly talking about these operations unfortunately weakens our belief in peace and democracy. That is why we are once again addressing those behind these operations from here: The process toward peace and a democratic society must not be obstructed. These operations are undermining this process and must be brought to an end.

'All political circles in the country must become the main actors in achieving internal peace'

Today, the path to ensuring internal peace in Turkey and advancing the democratization process lies in achieving the broadest possible social consensus. As operations are being carried out against municipalities, everyone must be aware that the voice of peace cannot be heard, democracy cannot develop, and the difficulties in achieving the broadest possible social consensus will only grow. All political circles in this country must become the main actors in achieving internal peace, starting with politics. We may think differently, some of us may be in power and some in opposition, but no one should exclude the other, no one should deprive the other of their rights, and the authority that holds the judiciary should not wield it over the opposition like the sword of Damocles.

We reiterate our call: let us achieve true peace and stop these operations. While these operations continue, all mayors and elected officials should be released and tried without detention. We once again express our solidarity with the CHP, the mayors, their constituents, and all the people of Turkey.”

'Were the previous trustee appointments political?'

Speaking after, Özgür Özel stated the following: "Everyone believes that these operations are political. Tülay Hatimoğulları reminded us that they suffered greatly under the trustees. Countless trustees were appointed. During the previous term, trustees were appointed to all but four of the municipalities they won. At that time, Mr. Erdoğan appeared on television with his current self-confidence and said the following: 'They are being detained because they sent money to terrorist organizations and provided financial support to terrorism. The issue, however, was the Kurdish citizens' right to elect their local administrators. Now that a new process has begun, Mr. Erdoğan said, “The process will continue, and the trustee system will remain an exception.” So, does that mean that all cases outside this exception are political? Does that mean that all previous trustee appointments were political?"

'Peace can never be separated from democracy'

Responding to a question from journalists about whether the pressure on the CHP would be discussed during tomorrow’s meeting between the DEM Party Imralı Delegation and President Tayyip Erdoğan, Tülay Hatimoğulları said, "We stand against any attack against any political party. In other words, our fundamental goal today is the democratization of Turkey. Turkey currently has a historic opportunity in its hands. We are a party working day and night to ensure this process is not wasted.Turkey has reached a stage where it can resolve its 100-year-old problem. We have stated from the outset that the resolution of this process, that is, the establishment of peace in this country, can never be separated from democracy. Democratic transformation is possible through peace, and peace is possible through democratic transformation. If we separate these two concepts and understandings, we cannot establish lasting peace in this country. If we exclude peace, we cannot establish democratization in this country. Regardless of whom we meet with, we have consistently expressed this principled stance and will continue to do so. Of course, we expect that the pressure on the opposition and the operations targeting municipalities will also be on the agenda in tomorrow's meetings."