ANKARA - HDP, which is preparing to turn the closure case against the party into a platform where "attacks on democratic politics will be judged", discusses the option to ally with an opposition party against the government and create an alternative.

 

The Constitutional Court (AYM) will discuss the first review of the closure case against the People's Democratic Party (HDP) on 31 March. The Constitutional Court, which will examine the 609-page indictment prepared and sent by Bekir Şahin, Chief Public Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, will decide whether the indictment will be accepted or not. While making this decision, the report prepared by the AYM rapporteur regarding the indictment will also be taken into account.

 

If the Constitutional Court accepts the indictment, it will notify the HDP with its attachments and request time from the party for defense. There is no specific period for defense identified in the law, but according to the custom, the period is up to 1 month. The HDP will be able to demand additional time for defense if needed. The Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals, where the party will prepare a written defense, will prepare its opinion in line with this defense.

 

HDP, on the other hand, will only be able to make a verbal defense at the AYM after the opinion of the Chief Prosecutor is announced. According to the law, the co-chair or a party member appointed by the co-chair will be able to do the verbal defense. The AYM, which decide after the verbal defense, will make its final decision on the file.

 

DECISION TO BAN THE PARTY AND PROHIBITION FROM POLITICS

 

In order for the Constitutional Court to decide to ban the party, 10 out of 15 judges must vote 'yes'.  In the event of a two-thirds majority, the Constitutional Court will be able to evaluate banning people from politics. If the court doesn't decide to ban the party, putting political ban on people will not be evaluated. However, to deprive the party of Treasury aid, only 8 people need to vote 'yes'.

 

NOT LEAVING DEMOCRATIC GROUNDS

 

The HDP on the other hand is preparing to create a 'Road Map' in the face of the increasing pressures for the upcoming period. The party is aiming to step up the political and legal struggle in this direction. There is a general consensus in the party that the democratic grounds gained as a result of long discussions should not be abandoned. The legal and political preperations of the HDP is almost complete.

 

THOSE PROSECUTING WILL BE PROSECUTED

 

HDP Legal Commission has been preparing for a long time against the party's closure case. However, with the adoption of the perspective of expanding this work beyond HDP, it was decided to establish a "legal center" that is large enough to cope with and carry out this process. This center, where nationally and internationally renowned lawyers and constitutional professors will take place, will turn the closure case into a big legal struggle.

 

HDP defines this process as "a political intervention and attack", and will defend the right to democratic politics and the rights of the voters on the basis of universal legal principles. The legal center to be established for this purpose will work at full capacity and turn the case into a platform where attacks on democratic politics will be judged.

  

HDP STEPS UP THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE

 

On the one hand, the party will take these steps, and on the other hand, starting from the provincial and district organizations, it will bring the political struggle to the forefront based on the will of the people in Newroz. For this purpose, in addition to the meetings with wide participation to be held with the authorized boards, public meetings will be held in districts  regarding the alternatives and options of HDP and the party base will be informed.

 

DEP

 

According to the information obtained; HDP officials also discuss creating an alternative to the democratic opposition against the government as a strong option, by switching to another opposition party in case the party is shut down. With the recent developments, HDP has been examining the examples of 1991 DEP and SHP. 

 

The solidarity with the HDP increased with the closure case against the party and Gergerlioğlu being stripped of from his status as an MP. Many renowned intellectuals, writers, academics and artists have offered to submit petitions the the Ministry of Interior to be involved with the newly established party. HDP is considering this offer as well.

 

A 'ROAD MAP' WILL BE CREATED

 

All these options discussed will be discussed and turned into a road map at the Party Assembly and Women's Council meetings, which will convene under the chairmanship of the Co-Chairs at the weekend.

 

MA / Diren Yurtsever