14.08.2026 17:11
The situation of Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of the HDP, who has been detained in Edirne Prison since November 4, 2016, has once again become one of the main items on the political agenda along with the publicly debated 'Terror-Free Turkey' process. Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the DEM Party, said, 'Hopefully, Demirtaş will be with us too,' pointing to the party congress on September 6.
A date change has been made for the ordinary congress of the DEM Party, which was originally planned to be held on September 20. Evaluating the process, DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan said, "We have decided to hold our congress, as the beginning of a restructuring period, together with our delegates on Sunday, September 6, at the Nazım Hikmet Culture Center."
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, who answered questions from Şirin Payzın and Murat Sabuncu on T24 regarding the issue, stated that the congress was moved to September 6 due to a "legal obligation" and that they would hold the "real grand congress" at a later, more suitable date.
SURPRISE DEMİRTAŞ STATEMENT FROM BAKIRHAN
Bakırhan made statements about the clues of the process following the acceptance of the Terror-Free Turkey law and expressed his expectations regarding the imprisoned Selahattin Demirtaş. While saying they expect Selahattin Demirtaş to be at the congress, Bakırhan drew attention with his words, "Hopefully, Demirtaş will be with us. After all, that is one of our main goals."
HE REACTED TO 'ELECTION BARGAINING' CLAIMS
Bakırhan harshly reacted to the recent claims of "election bargaining with the government." Arguing that such rhetoric is an injustice to the relevant parties, Bakırhan noted:
"This is also an injustice to Mr. Bahçeli and Mr. Erdoğan. I mean... the President of a country, a person at the head of a very important party of a country... Would they come and bargain with us over elections? Are they that cheap, that simple?"
DEMİRTAŞ'S SITUATION WAS ALSO DISCUSSED IN THE ERDOĞAN-DEM PARTY MEETING
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had received DEM Party Van Deputy Pervin Buldan and Şanlıurfa Deputy Mithat Sancar at the Presidential Complex yesterday. Speaking before the meeting, Buldan stated that Demirtaş's situation would also be discussed during the meeting.