DEM Party Co-Chairman Bakırhan: Türkiye's number one party today is CHP

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan , regarding the operations targeting CHP municipalities, said, "A system without democracy and law has never benefited anyone. Maybe it suited the short-term governments but in the long run it has made everyone lose. Now look at Turkey, business people are anxious, politicians are anxious, the number one party of Turkey is the Republican People's Party today. Its municipalities are anxious, its administrators are anxious. There is no 'there is theft, corruption.' If there is theft and corruption, there are courts, they open an investigation, is that right? The man is the mayor , where will he run to? He opens an investigation, if there is a penalty for something, then you take him, the municipal council elects someone in his place. But if you are looking for theft and corruption, by God, go to the trustee municipalities."

DEM Party Co-Chairman Tuncer Bakırhan, together with the Party Assembly Members, attended the public meeting held at the Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Cultural Center in the Menteşe district of Muğla within the scope of his party's "Peace and Democratic Society Meetings".

Speaking at the meeting, Bakırhan said, "I want to state that the people of Muğla, from seven to seventy, should support this process. Because this process is not just a DEM Party, AK Party process. It is not just a meeting of the Kurds and the government . It is a democratic society process. It is the democratization of Turkey. It is also a door of opportunity for the Kurdish issue to be resolved democratically after a century. I hope we will evaluate this door of opportunity together. We all need this."

"Türkiye also needs to find a democratic path for itself again," said Bakırhan:

"We are all watching together in the Middle East now. A very troubled, painful process is taking place. The next century is being reshaped in the Middle East. Yes, it is a very ambitious thing. We are entering a period that will affect the next century of each of us. Developments in the Middle East are also affecting here. It is right next to us. The chaos, crisis, and conflict there continue to reach new dimensions and take a new shape every day. Therefore, as the Middle East is being reshaped, Turkey also needs to find a democratic ground, a democratic path for itself again. I am not saying this, everyone who studies the Middle East is saying the same thing. The only way, the most correct way to stay away from this ground of conflict, this ground of crisis and chaos in the Middle East is to ensure our own social peace, our own internal peace; to build a process that will enable Kurds and Turks to live on equal grounds as brothers again after a century.

"A new hope emerged with Öcalan's call"A new hope emerged in Türkiye with Mr. Öcalan's call. Instead of a monist, rigid nation-centered mentality, a new Middle East, a new ground needs to be built where everyone is an equal citizen, where no one's religion or identity is interfered with, where no one is executed or punished for saying 'I am Kurdish', where no trustee is appointed to their municipality for saying 'I am Kurdish'. Mr. Öcalan actually saw these developments. He also brought about a change in this monist, anti-democratic system. I hope we will all evaluate this together. Nowhere in the world were weapons used in these conflict and solution processes in the first place. The best indicator of how well-intentioned and sincere he is on this issue is that he said 'if it is about weapons, I am removing the issue from the equation'. He said 'if it is about the PKK, I am dissolving the PKK, I am calling for a congress for participation in democratic political and social life'. Therefore, we have a new window of opportunity ahead of us. We need to evaluate this.

"Steps should be taken to eliminate the distrust towards this process" The most important questions asked to us in Bodrum were 'okay, you are right, this country needs peace, democracy. But do you trust this government?' At this very point, the government should take steps to eliminate the people's concerns, their distrust towards this process. Isn't that right? They need to take steps that will reassure the people, restore trust, and truly eliminate the people's reactions so far. But be careful, instead of these, there are operations against municipalities every day. You did it in Antalya, Izmir, Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır. That's how we count it. If there is to be social peace in this country, if this country has tried to solve this problem that it has not been able to solve for a century, what is it to appoint trustees, arrest mayors, arbitrarily turn the law into a stick for victimization? Is it a matter of reason? We criticize these things. Therefore, we do not agree with them. Yes, they ask us, 'so what do you trust?' Well, we trust that colorful component in Bodrum today. We trust Muğla. We trust you, our valuable people who have come to this hall. We trust the fertile lands of Muğla. We trust the practice of the people of Muğla, who have not fought with each other and have lived together despite all the divisive policies of the system in Muğla for years. Can there be a greater assurance than this?

''A system without democracy and law has not made anyone gain''A system without democracy and law has not made anyone gain. Maybe it suited the short-term governments, but in the long run it has made everyone lose. Now look at Türkiye, businesspeople are anxious, politicians are anxious, the first party of Türkiye is the Republican People's Party today. Its municipalities are anxious, its administrators are anxious. No 'there is theft and corruption.' If there is theft and corruption, there are courts, they open an investigation, is that right? The guy is the mayor, where is he going to run to? He opens an investigation, if there is a penalty for something, then you take him, the municipal council elects someone instead. But if you are looking for theft and corruption, by God, go to the trustee municipalities. There is the ultimate in theft, corruption, and irregularity. Since you are making this much theft and corruption a problem for yourself, the municipality in Siirt that we left debt-free currently has a debt of 500 million. Here you go, irregularity, corruption, and theft. Start from there first, then come to the opposition. Look, if you do this, we will say it here. Is there as much theft and corruption in this country as there is in Mardin and corruption in Van Municipality? Why don't you investigate there then?

"WHAT DO WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT A PEACE WITH WHICH MUĞLA IS NOT HAPPY?"

In this historical process, I want to address this government again through you from Muğla, please do not stoop to such things in this historical period, this historical call, in this period when the PYK is making plans to decommission the weapons in the coming days in line with the call of Mr. Öcalan. These are not true. We will not only provide a Kurdish peace. We are talking about the great peace of Turkey. What do we understand from a peace that Muğla is not happy with? Can there be a peace in Muğla where ecologists and environmentalists are not a part of it and are not happy? Can there be a peace where Alevis are not equal citizens? Therefore, we say that in a new century, let's build a more democratic republic; a republic that includes everyone; a republic where everyone is connected with strong bonds of belonging. You say, 'yes, I can seat the Kurd but I can beat him on the spot, imprison the other, appoint a trustee to the other.' This is not true. As the DEM Party, we will stand against these unlawful acts and injustices, just like we did yesterday, today and tomorrow.

"MHP HAS STARTED REGIONAL MEETINGS. SO, WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT?"

We need to create a climate of peace. A climate of peace cannot be achieved by arresting people, appointing trustees, detaining people, knocking on people's doors at four thirty in the morning, or by gathering hundreds of vehicles at Tunç Soyer's door. This is contrary to a climate of peace. Let's create a climate of peace together. Look, we are here. I am here right now. We are holding hundreds of meetings. Look, we are only explaining this process on the streets, on the avenues. Believe me, we believe in it most sincerely and do what is necessary. Is this process only the DEM Party's process? The Nationalist Movement Party has just started regional meetings. So, where is the government? Isn't it? Come on, let's explain this process together.

"CAN THERE BE A SOCIAL PEACE WITHOUT OPPOSITION?"

Therefore, we trust you. And because we trust you, we really stand tall. We call right right and wrong wrong. We do not violate anyone's rights. If there are positive things that the government does, we give them their due. But we also stand against negativities, as I have said here today. We need to contribute to this process together, hand in hand, with the government and the opposition, without excluding anyone. Can there be a social peace without the opposition? Can we call peace without women peace? Therefore, we invite everyone to seriousness, sincerity; to take practices and steps that are appropriate for this historical process. We want to state that the government should not be remembered as the one who made itself controversial with antidemocratic practices in a process where the PKK is planning to lay down its arms; but as the one who took democratic initiatives, took steps, and fulfilled the requirements of democracy. Türkiye needs democracy. Muğla needs democracy. The DEM Party will continue to say this out loud."