Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader
Devlet Bahçeli on Thursday called for the closure of
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) over ties to the bloody-minded
PKK terror group.
A
Turkish prosecutor filed a case with the constitutional court on Wednesday demanding a ban on the
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) over organic links to
PKK terror group.
"The
HDP is a criminal organization in a
political guise. Its closure, without it being allowed to reopen under another name, is a duty of honor to history, justice, our nation, and our coming generations,"
Devlet Bahçeli said at his party's
13th Ordinary Grand Congress in the capital Ankara.
His remarks came a day after
Turkey's top prosecutor filed an indictment seeking dissolution of the
HDP, calling it an undemocratic party that colludes with the
PKK terrorist group and seeks to destroy the unity of the state.
Bahçeli said the
indictment filed by the top prosecutor was "the voice of law and justice."
"This
development has put the minds of our entire nation at rest," he said.
"The
HDP is the
PKK; a murderer and a death trap for innocent children, youth, and women."
The move follows growing calls by
Turkish political leaders for the HDP to be officially closed down. In recent years, more and more HDP executives and elected officials have been charged with terrorism-related offenses.
Turkish leaders have long argued that the
HDP is little more than a front for the terrorist PKK.
In Turkey, the closure of political parties is decided by the
Constitutional Court, based on an indictment filed by the
Supreme Court Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Instead of permanent dissolution, the 15-member
Constitutional Court may decide to partially or completely cut off state aid to the party, depending on the severity of the acts in question.
In its more than
35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK-listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU-has been
responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
'NO SNAP POLLS'
The MHP leader also brushed aside rumors of possible
snap elections in Turkey.
"The elections will be held on time [in 2023].
Turkey will not deviate from this route," Bahçeli said.
He reaffirmed that President
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be their presidential candidate for the 2023 polls.
The MHP cooperates with the ruling
Justice and Development (AK) Party under their People's Alliance, formed ahead of the June 2018 general elections.
The
AK Party has also consistently denied rumors of
early elections in the country.
