HDP Yüksekdağ: We are expecting a decision regarding negotiations within two weeks

MESOP : THE TRICKY 10 % PERCENT CAMOUFLAGE ON OECALAN’S ORDER

Firat News 12 Feb 2015 – HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Co-president Figen Yüksekdağ met the press in the Turkish Parliament to assess recent developments. On the subject of the threshold, Yüksekdağ said it was unlikely the HDP would fail to exceed the 10%, as since the Presidential elections the party was attracting great interest. She added that the HDP was a party that was now receiving serious support from the AKP and CHP support base, and was getting ten and a half per cent of the vote according to the latest polls. She said they did not trust the polls, as their vote was well above the threshold.

‘We act as we think’

Yüksekdağ said the party executive was not considering what they would do in the event of not passing the threshold. She added: “We act as we think, and have made detailed plans, no one should think we would be like a fish out of water. We have always been amongst the people and we have confidence in ourselves.” She said there was no reason, apart from a conspiracy or a coup why the HDP should not play a powerful role after the elections.In response to a question regarding what sort of coup or conspiracy they expected, Yüksekdağ said: “We have no concrete information, but if it is possible that the HDP fails to exceed the threshold, then it is a possibility that there will be a coup or conspiracy to ensure this happens.” She added that it was ominous that the AKP Government should have put a security package on the agenda prior to the elections.

‘We will get back our 30 seats’

Yüksekdağ said the Government still wanted the HDP to put up independent candidates, as they were accustomed to getting extra seats. She added: “We will take back the 30 seats the AKP have usurped from us.”

‘The delegation may go to İmralı next week’

Yüksekdağ responded to questions regarding the process of resolution, saying that the delegation might go to İmralı the following week. She added that the Government should take steps to ensure negotiations could take place and that they were expecting a decision regarding this within two weeks. Yüksekdağ said the reason negotiations had not started was due to the failure of the Government to take the legal measures required. “One of these steps is the release of sick prisoners,” she said, criticising the Government’s introduction of a security bill. She continued: “Enacting anti-democratic legislation is a very harmful approach. Our side has taken all necessary steps. The Kurdish side is ready for a solution, but the Government is not. This is why negotiations have not commenced.” Yüksekdağ said 15 February was the anniversary of the international conspiracy against Abdullah Öcalan, and that despite his being incarcerated he had taken on a serious responsibility as a regional leader, not just the leader of the Kurdish people. Regarding electoral alliances, Yüksekdağ said that they had spoken to many groups that had no parliamentary representation and that they hoped to see all beliefs and languages in parliament. She added: “An Armenian will enter parliament without having to be disguised as a Moslem.”