AKEL Message to HDP on elections results in Turkey

The General Secretary of the C.C. AKEL has sent a congratulatory letter to the Co-Presidents of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) on the outcome of the elections in Turkey. The main part of the letter follows below:

26 June 2018

TO:

Pervin Buldan and Sezai Temelli

Co-Chairs of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)

Dear friends,

On behalf of the C.C. of AKEL, I would like to express our warm congratulations on the important result achieved by HDP and your Presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş respectively in the parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey.

In conditions characterized by an unequal and undemocratic struggle, persecution and oppression of your party’s militants, but also of many other representatives of left and progressive forces, prohibitions, media censorship, ideological polarization and state terrorism, you have accomplished something important: to maintain your voice and influence in defiance of the authoritarian system of power in Turkey that operates at all levels against you.

Undoubtedly, the re-entry of HDP into the Turkish National Assembly represents a challenge for the continuation of your future political and social struggles. This success is a beacon and gives hope for the Kurds of Turkey who are struggling to maintain their identity and socio-political rights. It also represents a hope for all those who are fighting for social justice, democracy and peace.

The voice of Selahattin Demirtaş and hundreds of imprisoned HDP militants is now becoming even stronger, strengthening your struggle both inside and outside parliament.

AKEL reaffirms its solidarity with your struggle and the continuation of the pursuit for the release of the political prisoners and administer justice to all those whose human, political and social rights are being violated.

Yours sincerely,

Andros Kyprianou

General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL