CHP CHAIRMAN AND THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF THE NATION ALLIANCE KILIÇDAROĞLU, HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH HDP CO-CHAIRS BULDAN AND SANCAR AT TGNA

CHP Chairman and Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu:

- "Parliament is the solution address for all problems, including the Kurdish problem. Since its establishment, Turkey's most fundamental problems have been solved in the Grand National Assembly. We are ready to solve all the existing problems together with the elected parliamentarians by trusting the electorates' common sense, and we will do so. No problem is without a solution. The address for solving every problem is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. All of these problems can be solved with the people's will."

- "Why fight when we can shake hands, embrace, share our painful days, cheer and laugh together on our joyous days? We will end the fight. As the 13th presidential candidate, I will end the conflict in this country. I promise my nation that no matter what their identity is, no matter what their beliefs are, no matter what their lifestyle is, a human is a human and has a place at the top of my head. This is the perspective I take."

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan:

- "The reason we hosted Mr. Chairman here today was to show that we favour the democratic solution of the Kurdish problem under the Parliament, under the roof of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. So we wanted to host Mr. Chairman and his delegation in the Parliament. So we preferred to make it an occasion for this."

HDP Co-Chair Mithat Sancar:

- "We believe that Turkey needs an urgent program to repair the social segments and structures that the destruction has severely damaged. And a new beginning... A new beginning will only be possible by establishing a system and life in Turkey based on democracy, human rights, justice and freedom. We shared our views on these issues. We held this meeting in the Parliament to emphasize that we see the Parliament as the address for solutions. Turkey's problems must and can be solved here, with a broad societal consensus."

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman and Nation Alliance Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met with Peoples' Democratic Party Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar at the Parliament. CHP leader and Presidential Candidate Kılıçdaroğlu were accompanied by CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chairman Özgür Özel, CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Böke and Deputy Chairman Oğuz Kaan Salıcı.

CHP leader and Presidential Candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and HDP Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar made the following statements at the press conference they held at the Parliament after the meeting:

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: We extend our most sincere thanks to Mr. Co-Chairs for accepting our request for an appointment and for welcoming us.

During the meeting, we presented them with the text of the constitutional amendments prepared by the Nation Alliance, our document on the strengthened parliamentary system and a copy of our joint consensus text. They accepted it.

We also discussed many of Turkey's inherent problems and brought them to the agenda. From our point of view, there must be an independent and impartial judiciary. There must be the rule of law. A welfare state... The worsening imbalance in income distribution must be eliminated, and the social state must be realized somehow.

Protection of fundamental rights and freedoms was also expressed as a joint demand. And fundamental rights and freedoms must be protected.

Sensitivity to the issues of environment and climate change was again expressed reciprocally. There are environmental and climatic challenges. It is necessary to make severe preparations in this respect. In an environment where the world is taking measures, the fact that the government in Turkey does not take measurements and ignores them leads to the unpreparedness of the state in the occurrence of such disasters, the recent tragedies that we are encountering.

Local governments were emphasized. Local governments, yes, we have expressed to Chairpersons that we never find it appropriate to assign trustees to local governments and to continue the trustee practice. Our common consensus text also includes that trusteeship should not be appointed. Whoever comes by election leaves by-election. It is a basic rule of democracy. If you destroy democracy and impose a mortgage on the will of the people, the nation, if you say I do not accept your votes and say, "I will bring someone I want here, someone who is an appointee", this is not the correct implementation. It is contrary to democracy. If we defend democracy, we must defend democracy in every environment, place, and condition. To defend democracy is to defend human rights. To defend democracy is to defend the independence of the judiciary. To defend democracy is to defend equality between men and women. To defend democracy is to put forward the will to take all kinds of measures to eliminate the destruction of the environment and the climate. It was therefore expressed that democracy is one of our indispensable conditions. Let me say my support for this.

We are paving the path for a free political life. Politics should no longer be an arena for fighting. I am expressing it once again. Isn't this country tired of the battle? Many things will be said, written, scratched and explained on specific TV channels again tonight. Friends, aren't you tired of quarrelling? Why are we quarrelling? On what grounds are we fighting, and why are we polarizing society? Why are we dividing it when we can embrace and come together and discuss it like civilized people? We are in favour of unity and solidarity. We are in favour of acting together for the development and growth of this country and the solution of all existing problems. Politics should not create problems; politics should solve existing problems, which is why politics exists. If politics creates problems, this problem reflects negatively on the country's growth, development, human rights, and equality between men and women,this problem must be eradicated.

This has to be removed.

Party closures.. This is the 21st century, friends. How can we close down parties? These pursuits are not right, 'let me close down this party so that its votes come to me.' Where does this come from? Closing down a party is wrong. We all see and know that the parties that have been closed down to date have reappeared on the political scene under different names, and the public has supported them. Therefore, it is necessary to make it more difficult to close down parties - there are regulations on this issue in our common consensus text. The Parliament needs to decide on this matter first. I also expressed these thoughts to Chairpersons.

Violence against women... Violence against women must absolutely come to an end. Society has a sentiment on this issue, and the political institution must feel this sensitivity in its soul. If you encourage violence against women in one way or another, if you remain silent, this is not right. Violence against women must be ended, and the political institution must take an unequivocal stand on this issue. When this attitude is accepted, you will see that women in Turkey can practice politics freely. They are already working in all areas of life. Therefore, they will continue their work. Thus, we all need to recognize that women are one of the most critical actors in society and that they are actors who should have equal rights with men.

All disadvantaged groups... The political institution must do its part in all these matters. An approach such as ignoring disadvantaged groups and taking away their right does not suit the political institution in the 21st century. The rights of all disadvantaged groups must be recognized, and the way must be cleared for them to live freely in cities, villages and all areas of life.

Using the judiciary as a weapon... In other words, we never accept the politicization of the judiciary by political power, bringing its people there and then using the judiciary as a weapon against politics. According to Article 138 of the Constitution, the judge 'decides according to the rule of law and the conviction of his/her conscience'. Let me rephrase, 'he/she decides not according to the law, but according to the rule of law and his/her conscientious conviction.' This is what we expect from judges. We hope they resist the pressures of political power. We want them to listen to the voice of their own conscience. If this happens, we can build a real democracy.

We also had a conversation about the earthquake. Yes, the need for an urgent earthquake repair program was also expressed by the chairpersons. We already agree with the same opinion. It is essential to do special planning for this region. I called the government in this regard in the earthquake zone I visited. I want to make the same call here again. Therefore, an urgent repair program needs to be put into action.

Dear friends, the address for solving all problems, including the Kurdish problem, is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Let me rephrase this once again, the address for the solution to all problems, including the Kurdish problem, is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The existence of the Turkish Grand National Assembly stems from the fact that it is a parliament that solves problems. Since its establishment, Turkey's most fundamental problems have been solved in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. We are ready to solve all the existing difficulties together with the parliamentarians elected by the people trusting in the nation's common sense, and you will see that we will do so. No problem is unsolvable. The address for solving every problem is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In other words, all these problems can be solved with the nation's will.

Therefore, why can't this problem be solved? Does everybody else solve the problem, and why can't we? Isn't the capacity of the TGNA sufficient to solve problems? No, it is enough. This is the place where every problem can be solved. In our Declaration of Call for the Second Century, we clearly and explicitly emphasized that the address for solving the Kurdish problem is the Grand National Assembly. All of these resolutions were unanimously passed by our Congress. We defend democracy, we defend human rights. We believe that no one should be marginalized. We defend equality between men and women.

Imagine, from the environment and climate to human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary, the rights of disadvantaged groups, and the equality of women and men, we will either bring democracy to this country or get it, friends. There is no halfway. There is no quarrel. We will discuss freely, and we will debate together. We don't necessarily agree on everything one hundred per cent; if we don't agree, we will sit down again and talk again. There are respected people in this country, people from the academic world, civil society, and opinion leaders from every city. Therefore, politics is not a solitary institution. Politics draws its strength from society, from the opinion leaders of the society, and from the sages of the society. And therefore, with that support, we can solve all the current problems. There is no problem without a solution.

Therefore, my dear friends, this visit is obviously of great importance for you, all the cameras are here; all the cameras are here with all the pros and cons. My special request to the press members: Please refrain from a language that divides society. Refrain from a language that polarizes society. The media also has a responsibility. The media should know this responsibility and realize this duty. Why this conflict when we can shake hands, embrace, share our painful days, cheer and laugh together on our joyous days? Then, we will end the conflict.

As the 13th presidential candidate, I will end the fighting in this country. I promise to my nation; whatever their identity, beliefs, and lifestyle, a Human being is a Human being and has a place at the top of my head. This is the perspective I take.

Look, another tragic incident. They come and speak on the rostrum in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. English is written in brackets; this word is in English, and the sentence is in English. In French, the word is in French, etc., everything is written. When a Kurdish sentence appears in the text of the speech, it is called an 'unknown language'. For God's sake, I appeal to the conscience of the people of this country. TRT has a channel called TRT Kürdi, which broadcasts. How can you write here that it is an unrecognized language? Why do you write in an unknown language?

Why do you write an unknown language when it has been spoken for thousands of years?

Now I am asking everyone with a conscience, morality, decency, virtue, and knowledge. Double standards are not befitting in the state, friends. It needs to be corrected. First, you will respect everyone's language. Yes, our official language is Turkish; that's fine; nobody is saying anything. But as a state, you cannot set double standards; you cannot create double standards. When you set double standards, it means you are separating your citizens; you are segregating them. It means you are turning one group of people against another. This is the imperial power game in Turkey. We will save Turkey from this game as well. Everyone will be peaceful in this country. Everyone will be comfortable. You will not see everyone as an enemy; you will not marginalize anyone. You will respect everyone's beliefs, identities and lifestyles.

We will make a new beginning. We will make a moral start, a democratic start that embraces everyone. A society free from fighting. Society will focus on this: How will we grow, how will we develop, and how will we solve unemployment? How will we eliminate the imbalance between regions? There is a problem in the earthquake zone. There is the problem of thousands, millions of people living there. How will we solve this problem? Society should focus on this. It should not concentrate on vicious debates. The members of the press have a significant role to play here.

Did I speak a little too long, Chairpersons? Sir, I thank you all from the very bottom of my heart. As I said, I would like to thank Chairpersons for accepting us in your presence.

Pervin Buldan: Dear press members, first of all, we would like to thank all of you for your interest and attention. Today, yes, we had a meeting with Mr. Chairman and his delegation. For about an hour, we consulted on Mr. Chairman's issues. We talked about the most fundamental problems of Turkey. As a result of these fundamental problems, we talked about the expectations of the society of Turkey, the people of Turkey and the public opinion of Turkey from us. Therefore, on behalf of our party, we would like to thank Mr. Chairman again for the information he has given us in line with these expectations.

However, I would like to express that we hosted Mr. Chairman here today to show that we favour the democratic solution to the Kurdish question under the Parliament, under the roof of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. We wanted to host Mr. Chairman and his delegation in the Parliament. We preferred to make it an occasion for this. At least we also discussed the expectations of the Turkish society from us in solving all the problems of Turkey, especially the Kurdish problem, and what will be done after the next elections. Once again, we thank Mr. Chairman and his delegation for coming. Good luck Mr. Chairman.

Mithat Sancar: Dear members of the press, we find it valuable that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu and his delegation visited us here. Many issues were discussed during our meeting. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu has just presented them to you in summary. Yes, Turkey is going through a period of multi-dimensional crisis. The earthquake again laid bare the picture of the devastation we are going through with great pain. I wish that the earthquake, which has enabled us to enter a new period, had not brought so much pain to the agenda. But it is no longer possible to carry out politics and work by ignoring these sufferings.

We had a constructive meeting, and our party believes that Turkey needs an urgent program to repair the social segments and structures that were severely damaged by the devastation. So there is an urgent need for a repair program and a new beginning... A fresh start will only be possible by establishing a life and system in Turkey based on democracy, human rights, justice and freedom. So we exchanged our views on these issues. We held this meeting in the Parliament to emphasize that we see the Parliament as the address for solutions, as Ms. Co-Chair said. Turkey's problems should and can be solved here with a broader social consensus.

On the other hand, we will carry the content of this meeting and the issues we discussed to our committees. We will evaluate this meeting with our allies. And we will make a more detailed statement to the press and the public in 1-2 days.

We thank you all. We also thank Mr Chairman for his visit.