‘We Believe That Discourse of İmamoğlu Should be Supported for Today’

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HSP) imprisoned former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş has posted a series of tweets ahead of İstanbul Metropolitan Mayoral elections on June 23.

Referring to Ekrem İmamoğlu, the candidate of the Nation Alliance from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), he has said, "We believe that the discourse of Mr. İmamoğlu should be supported for today."

"Nothing can be beautiful enough without the HDP, by excluding the HDP. They should understand that 'they cannot create something beautiful by force'," Demirtaş has stated further.

CLICK - Demirtaş: Please Go to Polls and Cast Your Vote

Arrested since November 4, 2016, HDP former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş also made a call to voters "to go to polls and cast their votes" two days before the March 31 local elections as well as on the day of election.

'I think there is no confusion or indecision'

Some highlights from Demirtaş's tweets are as follows:

"Hello friends, how are you? We are fine. We are watching you with stamina and hope. The forced İstanbul election rerun is near. The attitude of the HDP has been announced by the Central Office, you already know that. I am sure they are doing what is necessary in the field.

"I think there is no confusion, indecision or something of that sort? In my opinion, there should not be, either. Because this election is not a multiple-choice election. If we want to pave the way for democracy, peace, justice, equality and freedoms, the attitude of the HDP towards the election is meaningful and significant.

"We are citizens who want to live together in equality, fraternity and peace. We have all gone through and are still going through sorrows, cruelties and injustice. Nevertheless, we have never lost our hope for a beautiful future, because we are struggling for that.

"With each election, we want to pave the way for such a future. Of course, elections in themselves are not enough to change everything. Apart from elections, a struggle for that end needs to waged without being undaunted and with patience, stubbornness and courage.

'Vote for the bright future of your children'

"The beautiful people of İstanbul... Vote not for opposition or enmity, not for a deeper social polarization, not for grudge, revenge or hatred, not for conflicts of personal interest, but for the bright future of your children.

"We believe that the discourse of Mr. İmamoğlu should be supported for today. Because we are beautiful together. Nothing can be beautiful enough without the HDP, by excluding the HDP.

"They should understand that 'they cannot create something beautiful by force.' Greetings to you all with longing and most heartfelt love..." (AÖ/SD)