HDP asks top court to decide closure case after elections

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has demanded the Constitutional Court to postpone all proceedings regarding the closure case after the elections, the party's co-chair has announced.

"The Constitutional Court must stop these proceedings ... The ruling power intends to use this case against the HDP as a tool of blackmailing," Mithat Sancar told a press conference yesterday (January 16) at the party's headquarters in Ankara, the capital.

In mid-2021, the high court accepted an indictment seeking the closure of the party because of its alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an armed insurgency for nearly four decades.

More recently, the court agreed to block the HDP's Treasury funds, which are vital for parties' election campaigns.

In yesterday's application, the party asked the court to halt proceedings until the elections are completed.

The parliamentary and presidential elections, which are widely anticipated to be the most challenging ones for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his two-decade rule, are due to be held on June 18.

However, as Sancar pointed out, there have been rumors that the election date will be brought forward to May.

"The elections will be held on June 18 normally. If another decision is not taken, the formal proceedings for the elections will start on April 19.

"However, various news and direct statements of the representatives of the ruling power show May 14 is also being considered an election date. If the elections are brought forward to May 14, the election proceedings will formally start on March 12.

"There is serious uncertainty. This uncertainty has goals beyond grabbing the HDP by the throat. The ruling power intends to use this case as a tool to blackmail the HDP."

Having the third-largest group in the parliament, the HDP is widely regarded to be a key part of the election, as neither the ruling nor the opposition blocs are apparently able to have popular support over 50 percent, which is needed for the election of the president and to secure a majority in the parliament.

HDP closure case

The Court of Cassation launched an inquiry against the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on March 2, 2021, and Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation Bekir Şahin applied to the Constitutional Court on March 17, 2021, demanding the closure of the HDP and many of members banned from politics.

A two-thirds majority, or votes of 10 of the 15 Constitutional Court members, are necessary to close the party or to impose other sanctions on the party, such as wholly or partially depriving it of public aid.
The top court ruling will be submitted to the Court of Cassation Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which filed the case, and to the related political party, namely the HDP, and the decision will be published in the Official Gazette.

Those who have been imposed a political ban will not be able to be founders, members, executives, or supervisors of any other political party for five years. (VK)