Turkey: HDP sees continued role in parliament

By Alper Atalay

ANKARA (AA) - The opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) decision to halt parliamentary activities earlier this month is neither absolute nor permanent, a party spokesman said Tuesday.

“Our decision on not attending activities” has been revised, the HDP’s Ayhan Bilgen told Anadolu Agency. “That is to say, it was a temporary decision, not a permanent one,"

On Nov. 6, the HPD announced the suspension of its parliamentary activities following the arrests of 13 HDP lawmakers, including Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, who remain in custody awaiting trial for terrorism-related offenses.

Bilgen said that there will be some parliamentary activities, "mainly" focusing on Demirtas, Yuksekdag and the other arrested lawmakers.

He added that taking part in some parliamentary activities will keep the HDP’s agenda visible.

"We will express our opinions on issues like the [proposed new] constitution. We will more clearly show the injustice against our party," Bilgen said.

Parliamentary immunity from prosecution for lawmakers facing criminal investigation was lifted earlier this year. Although it affects deputies from all four parliamentary parties, it is mostly politicians from the HDP, which has been accused of ties to the PKK terrorist organization, and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) that are involved.

Turkish authorities have repeatedly said there is nothing unconstitutional or unlawful in the HDP lawmakers’ arrests, adding that they are going through normal legal procedures.