Abdullah Zeydan, the candidate from the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) who won local elections in Van, told Channel8 on Wednesday that he hoped the Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate would not accept the position of mayor.
“I hope the AK Party candidate will not accept it because of his personality and conscience,” Zeydan said. “I participated in the election through a decision from the Supreme Election Board.”
He said the decision to annul his post as mayor was illegal and he hoped the election board would respond positively to the DEM Party’s complaints.
Zeydan also emphasized that he did not condone his exclusion and that the people of Van do not accept the defeat of their will.
He said the party demands the return of their rights.
Protests began on Tuesday in Van over the removal of Zeydan, the successful candidate in the elections.
A decision to ban activities and demonstrations in Van has been implemented.
A DEM delegation includes the two co-chairs, several MPs, Kurdish politician Leyla Zana, and Basak Demirtas, the wife of jailed former People’s Democratic Party (HDP) leader Selahattin Demirtas.
A People’s Republican Party (CHP) delegation has also arrived in Van.
