AK Party criticizes HDP leader’s ‘slanderous’ election rigging accusations
by Fatih Şemsettin Işık
ANKARAMay 20, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Fatih Şemsettin Işık
May 20, 2015 12:00 am
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has denied allegations by Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş regarding the upcoming elections, saying: "[It is] such coarse slander. Where is the evidence of this? Some people have even now started to manipulate the election results. In the event that this is true, even I'm pretty sure about it, I will resign, or anyone else who is involved will be discharged."
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Davutoğlu harshly criticized what Demirtaş said on Monday regarding the upcoming general elections on June 7, in which he claimed that a group of 3,500 men are prepared to rig the elections. Pointing out that he will leave office if these allegations are realized, he said: "They are conducting coup-like attempts and making statements in order to overshadow democracy in Turkey. They keep it slow and bring it to the agenda. They will try to pour people into the streets on June 8 following their defeat in the elections."
Regarding reactions coming from opposition parties following the bombings of two HDP provincial headquarters in Adana and Mersin on Monday, Davutoğlu pointed out that the statements are no more than defamation of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), and said regarding allegations that the AK Party carried out the bombings: "How do you know that, and what evidence do you have? Why would the AK Party do such a thing? In fact, the most important issue that the ruling party seeks is to facilitate the elections. As soon as he learned of the incident, [Republican People's Party Chairman] Kılıçdaroğlu says, 'The ruling party did it.' This is how these attacks care being used in provocative terms."
Remarking that he is quite sure about winning the upcoming elections and that there is no need to rig them, Davutoğlu said: "I don't think it is possible that the HDP can pass the [10 percent election] threshold." Regarding the issue, Demirtaş has recently said that he will resign from his post if his party fails to pass the election threshold in the upcoming general elections to enter Parliament. Recently conducted public surveys by pollsters such as GENAR and the Objective Research Center (ORC) have reported that the HDP is unlikely to pass the election threshold with support around 8 percent to 9 percent.
Meanwhile, the perpetrators of the simultaneous explosions that took place in at the HDP provincial headquarters in Adana and Mersin on Monday are being sought by a special team with 300 police officers. Responding to questions from the press on Wednesday, Mersin Mayor Özdemir Çakacak said that the perpetrators have been identified: "All relevant units of the police headquarter are working on this incident. We have some intelligence, but it is not right to disclose it here. Although these kinds of incidents were perpetrated against one particular party, we feel as if these acts were carried out against all parties."
Several people were hurt after the provocative attacks took place, and they were strongly condemned by both Davutoğlu in an election campaign rally in the central province of Karaman and other government officials later on.
During his visit to the southeastern province of Mardin earlier this month, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the government has taken the necessary steps in the reconciliation process it launched to end the conflict between the outlawed PKK and the state, but it, along with the HDP failed to abide by their promise. The government launched the reconciliation process to bring an end to the Kurdish question, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives over decades. The process was on the brink of reaching a conclusion as the leader of the PKK announced in his Nevruz message in March that it was time to lay down weapons and continue their cause with democratic means. However, the process that seemed to have been finally cemented after numerous provocations was crippled again after the recent attack in Ağrı by the terrorist group. "We did all we could, but the separatist group and its political extension did not keep their promises," Erdoğan said, adding that democracy and arms cannot coexist.
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.
You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.