15.02.2025 14:01
The co-chairs of the DEM Party, Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, reacted to the appointment of a trustee to the Van Metropolitan Municipality during a press conference they organized. It was noteworthy that Hatimoğulları referred to MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli as "Mr. Abdullah Bahçeli" during her statement.
After the appointment of a trustee to the Van Metropolitan Municipality, which is affiliated with the DEM Party, Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan held a press conference titled "Process and Trustee".
"WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE TRUSTEE WAS APPOINTED IN ADVANCE"
Speaking at the meeting, Hatimoğulları addressed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying, "We are asking Erdoğan. Do you want to blow up the existing process by appointing a trustee to Van, do you want to undermine this dialogue process? We know very well that the trustee was appointed in advance. We also know very well that the instruction was given as it circulated abroad," she stated.
"THEY NEED TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST BAHÇELİ AS WELL"
Continuing her remarks, Hatimoğulları said, "Today, Mr. Bahçeli has expressed Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood in every statement he has made since October 1." She added, "Considering these motives, they need to file a lawsuit against Devlet Bahçeli as well. Because the approach that expresses the same discourse and acts on the same discourse has portrayed the city consensus, which was expressed in the Chief Public Prosecutor's justification for detention, as an organizational crime, and expressing Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood as an organizational crime. We absolutely do not accept this."
BAHÇELİ'S GAFFE
During Tülay Hatimoğulları's press statement, her use of the phrase "Mr. Abdullah Bahçeli" while referring to MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli drew attention.
GOVERNOR BALCI APPOINTED IN PLACE OF ZEYDAN
Van Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison in the case he was retried after the Supreme Court overturned his 5-year prison sentence for "not being a member of an armed terrorist organization but aiding the organization," issued by the Diyarbakır 5th Heavy Criminal Court. Following this development, Zeydan was removed from office by the Ministry of Interior, and Dr. Ozan Balcı, the Governor of Van, was appointed in his place.
AFTER THE APPOINTMENT, THE SITUATION GOT CHAOTIC
After the decision to remove him from office was communicated to Zeydan in front of the municipal building, police teams intervened with citizens waiting around the municipal building.
The police dispersed the crowd using water cannons, tear gas, and plastic bullets. Many people, including Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Chair Doğan Hatun, were detained. Hatun was later released.
11 MUNICIPALITIES HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TRUSTEES SINCE MARCH 31
Since the local elections on March 31, 2024, a total of 10 municipalities have been assigned trustees, including Van, Hakkari, Esenyurt, Mardin Metropolitan, Batman, Halfeti, Tunceli, Ovacık, Bahçesaray, Akdeniz, Siirt Municipality, and Van Metropolitan Municipality.