Solidarity statement with the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Türkiye
Joint statement of the S&D, the Greens/EFA and the Left Groups in the European Parliament
Against the backdrop of the final verbal defence of the Peopleʼs Democratic Party (HDP) in Türkiye, now scheduled for 11 April 2023, the S&D, the Greens/EFA and the Left Groups in the European Parliament express their solidarity with the HDP and condemn in its strongest terms the attempts to ban the party and its politicians from politics.
A politically motivated trial against the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is ongoing since 17 March 2021. The current President and government of Türkiye aim to ban the HDP as the third largest party and second strongest opposition party in the parliament shortly before the elections. This controversial procedure, on which the EP has already expressed its opinion several times, follows party-political considerations and not constitutional ones and must not lead to a closure of the HDP. Thousands of party members and officials, MPs, local councillors and co-mayors have been tried in recent years mainly on terrorism-related charges. Since November 2016 the former HDP co-chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, the former presidential candidate remain in detention.
As democracy and political pluralism are cornerstones of the European Parliament and its political groups, we underscore our solidarity with the HDP and defend its right to political representation. The HDP advocates a democratic and pluralistic Türkiye where people live in freedom and justice, for a society where equality prevails. The emancipation of women, of different ethnic and religious groups and ecology are important aspects that the HDP stands for. We urge authorities in Türkiye to end the repression of the party and its attempts to close it down, which are in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The closure of HDP would be an irreversible blow to the democratic system of Türkiye and its relations with the EU. People in Türkiye deserve democracy, the rule of law and human and civil rights, including political pluralism, as well as the freedoms of association, assembly and expression. That is why we are committed to a democratic Türkiye, where all political parties can operate freely.
