ANKARA — Speaking at the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) group meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday that rallies will not be allowed in Istanbul's Taksim Square on Labor Day, May 1.

Erdoğan stated that the government would not put up with people damaging streets, craftsmen and customers under the cover of celebrating Labor Day. Calling on nongovernmental organizations, Erdoğan said that the government would only allow rallies to be held in designated areas on that day. He stated that some unions are "attempting to provoke violence" through protests.

He said that two squares (Yenikapı and Maltepe) were allocated as alternatives by the Istanbul governorate for Workers' Day rallies.