MHP: Öcalan's Call for Neutrality Against HDP's Abuse

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Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli, an ally of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has commented on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan's statement on the İstanbul mayoral election rerun.

The PKK's imprisoned leader shared the message to the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) with his lawyers, but it was first obtained and announced to the public by the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Bahçeli, calling the HDP as "the political projection of the PKK," said that its support to the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu for the İstanbul elections cause "causes a great outrage among our nation."

"The HDP and the Qandil [PKK] has sided with the CHP. The picture we face is regretful and exemplary. The trade, dirty negotiations, agonizing agreements and compromises between the HDP and the CHP are a great risk and threat for the survival of our nation.

"It is understood that the chief terrorist who is serving his life sentence at İmralı called for neutrality to intervene in or even to prevent the HDP's abuse."

Bahçeli alleged that Öcalan is disturbed by the HDP's support for the opposition and made the call for neutrality as a result.

Ha added that the HDP not changing its strategy despite Öcalan's call shows the "immoral" plans on the June 23 polls.

The HDP said today (June 21) that Öcalan's call does not contradict with its strategy towards the elections. (EKN/VK)