CHP candidate İnce visits jailed HDP candidate Demirtaş in Edirne Prison

ANKARA

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) presidential candidate Muharrem İnce visited Selahattin Demirtaş, the jailed former co-leader and presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), at Edirne Prison on May 9.

As part of his bid to visit all candidates in the presidential race, İnce visited Demirtaş ahead of a scheduled rally in the western province of Edirne.

The CHP candidate for the snap presidential election vowed on May 7 to pay a courtesy visit to all fellow candidates and has already visited İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener and Felicity Party (SP) leader Temel Karamollaoğlu.

Demirtaş has been in jail since November 2016 as part of a case in which he is being tried for “leading a terrorist organization.”

Tight security measures were taken outside the prison during İnce’s visit. Other participants and reporters were stopped around 4 kilometers from the prison.

Only lawyers were able to enter the jail with İnce.

The meeting between İnce and Demirtaş lasted for around one hour.

“The visit by İnce carries more than a political message. It is an example of human solidarity. No matter who wins in the end, we contribute to the social consensus and the culture of peace. I thank İnce for the visit and the solidarity he has shown,” Demirtaş said in a written statement posted on Twitter by the HDP quarters.

“I wished him [Demirtaş] good luck,” İnce said during a public rally he held in Edirne following his visit to the jailed candidate.

İnce set to meet with Erdoğan

İnce also said he would meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at 9:00 p.m. local time on May 9.

“I will also wish him good luck,” İnce said.

Erdoğan has already responded positively to İnce’s call for a meeting, saying he would receive the CHP candidate at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) headquarters in Ankara.