HDP Local Governments co-spokesperson Salim Kaplan issued a written statement to respond to a news spreading around saying that "HDP municipalities have withdrawn from GABB (Southeastern Anatolia Municipalities Union)".

 

Kaplan, in a written statement, drew attention to the seizure of HDP-run municipalities where democratically and freely elected mayors have been replaced by trustees. "The trustee of the Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality, - said Kaplan - has appointed himself president of GABB."

 

Kaplan said that the trustee had said at the meeting: "I am the state, you will not make elections here."

 

Kaplan reiterated that the HDP has not participated to a second meeting of GAAB, as "attendance to a GABB meeting consisting of trustees would not be right". However, said Kaplan, "the HDP has not taken the decision to withdraw our municipalities from GABB."