HDP calls on Turkish opposition parties to ‘block parliament’ over security bill

ANKARA

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş has called on the other two opposition parties to “block parliament” in order to prevent the voting on a contentious new security package, set for this week. 

“I address all opposition parties: Let’s join hands and block parliament. Let’s not allow this draft bill to become law for months. The opposition can achieve this if it cooperates,” Demirtaş told his party deputies at parliament on Feb. 3, claiming that the draft will be used to oppress upcoming protests.

“People everywhere have a feeling of rage. [The government’s] aim with the new domestic security bill is to stop this. Its concern is not to maintain national security, but rather to protect the palace,” Demirtaş şaid, referring to the gargantuan new presidential palace in Ankara, recently built for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“The rage has grown and they know it. Hunger, injustice, and lawlessness has brought society to the brink of riots. In addition to all this, if they bring in an official dictatorship under the name of the presidential system, they know that they will not be able to prevent street action,” he added.

Demirtaş also vowed that President Erdoğan would “not be able to become the head of a presidential system.” 

“He really believes in the caliphate. Someone made him believe it, flattering him. ‘You are the caliph,’ they tell him. He has become the head of lawlessness across the whole country … We will never accept the system you want,” the HDP co-chair said.