ISTANBUL- In the statement made regarding the meeting held by the Labor and Freedom Alliance, it was emphasized that the alliance was closer to the option of a common candidate in the Presidential election, while calling for the society to be a single voice.

 

Co-Chairs, co-chairmen and spokespersons of the Labor and Freedom Alliance representatives gathered at a hotel in Taksim, Istanbul yesterday. At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the alliance issued a joint written statement entitled “We challenge the attacks: we will make 2023 the year of political change”.

 

‘We are committed to change!’

 

 Emphasizing that the demands of all oppressed segments are their own, it was stated that the attacks were aimed at the entire society, democracy and freedoms. "We know that we can stop these attacks with a joint struggle," the statement said. We trust ourselves, our experience of struggle, our historical heritage, our people's demand for change. We are aware of our responsibility for the liberation of Turkey from an oppressive one-man regime and we are determined to change it.

 

'The pressure on democratic politics is increasing'

 

 It was stated in the statement that Turkey entered the elections in an environment where democracy, law, rights and freedoms were violated, and it was pointed out that the pressure on democratic politics was increasing day by day. The statement continued as follows: “The closure case against HDP, the third largest party in the Assembly, which won the votes of more than 6 and a half million citizens, was brought to their accounts by a majority of votes, despite the opposition of 7 members, including the President of the Constitutional Court, which had 15 members before the trial. The temporary blocking decision was taken and it was brought to the decision stage on the eve of the election with political calculations. The usurpation of trustees against HDP and DBP municipalities continues. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is being politically banned and preparations continue to usurp the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality with a trustee after HDP municipalities. With detention, arrest, attacks, censorship and fines, all objection mechanisms of the society are tried to be paralyzed by rendering the free press inoperable.”

 

We will fight together

 

 The judiciary is being used as a political tool by the government, as can be seen in the Kobanê plot case, the sentences given in the Gezi trial, the strike bans, and the Council of State decision approving the exit from the Istanbul Convention. While a handful of capitalists and the ruling elite add profit to their profits, our bread is getting smaller day by day. After workers and laborers, pensioners were also condemned to starvation. As the Labor and Freedom Alliance, we will be in a shoulder-to-shoulder struggle with all the segments targeted by the government to protect its seat. All forces of social opposition must be with one voice. There is no room for despair. The persistent and massive struggle of the EYT members yielded results. Beakeart workers broke the bans with a de facto strike, paving the way for the struggle. The campaign "one free meal for each child, healthy food", which women carried out all over the country, yielded results, albeit with limited gains. We entered the new year with the joint actions of Adana Saya workers and Gaziantep casting workers, local and refugee workers demanding a wage increase.

 

Let's raise our voices together with the rally

 

 As the Labor and Freedom Alliance, we are holding our first joint rally in Istanbul Kartal Square on Sunday, January 15, with the motto 'Let's Stop Poverty, War and Oppression'. We will shout out to this rally the oppressive and public enemy one-man regime, this unjust order, "Let's Change Together". We will shout the demands of millions with the participation of tens of thousands. We call on all the forces of the social opposition to raise this voice together and turn the rally into a feast of political change in 2023.”

 

Joint candidate emphasis

 

On the other hand, in the statement that they also made comprehensive evaluations about the Presidential and parliamentary elections to be held this year at their meeting, the statement said, “We reviewed possible ways and methods, our preparations and moves for Turkey's liberation from the one-man regime and for the strongest representation of the forces defending labor and freedoms in the new period. Developments are imposing a radical democratic transformation on Turkey. As an alliance, we are aware of our historical responsibility in this matter and we are more determined than ever to fulfill all our responsibilities in order to save Turkey from the current conditions. In the process of determining our own candidate in the presidential election, we declare that we are closer to the common candidate option, which is in line with our principles and determined by consensus. We call on all social forces, especially the opposition, who want change and are responsible for the society, to be brave and to fulfill their responsibilities in an open and transparent manner as a requirement of this historical responsibility.

 

‘Prohibition and trustee practices must be ended immediately!’

 

In the statement, "Party closure, political ban scenarios and the strong signs, insinuations and developments regarding the possibility of violating the constitution regarding the presidential candidacy show that Turkey is wanted to be led to the elections not only with pressure and attacks, but also in an environment of great uncertainty. On this occasion, we shout once again, that the closure case against the HDP, which will mean interference in the popular will and elections, should be abolished indefinitely, and all kinds of political bans and trustee practices should be ended immediately.

 

Call to society: Let's change together

 

Underlining that the Labor and Freedom Alliance is ready for joint action not only with its own representatives but also with all democratic institutions and organizations on election security, the statement said, “We see that positive steps have been taken in this direction so far and that necessary measures are being taken to ensure that the will of the people is fully reflected in the ballot box. We welcome you. All of our people should take part in election security and mobilize now. The joint works and public meetings held in many cities, especially in Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Istanbul and Dersim, show the potential of the Labor and Freedom Alliance and the trust and expectation of our people. One of our most fundamental political responsibilities is to create the political and social equivalent of this potential. On behalf of the Alliance, we once again call on all our citizens who want a future built with the values of labor and freedoms. Come, let's change it together!” spoken words.