Following intense public backlash, the local election board in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority eastern province Iğdır (Îdir) has reinstated the candidacies of pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party members Mehmet Nuri Güneş and Emine Yöndem Kartal for the upcoming local elections, marking what party members have said is a significant victory for democracy and community solidarity in the region.
In the wake of their initial disqualification, deemed politically motivated by many, the streets of Iğdır witnessed a surge of support for Güneş and Kartal. The local community’s protest against the ruling was a testament to the candidates’ popularity and the public’s demand for fair political representation. On 27 February, the electoral board’s reversal was celebrated as a triumph of democratic will over political suppression.
Güneş, upon his candidacy’s reinstatement, committed to embracing all communities in Iğdır. This gesture of solidarity was echoed by DEM Party Iğdır MP Yılmaz Hun, who emphasised the effectiveness of the community’s collective voice in overturning the disqualification.
The initial decision to disqualify the candidates had sparked significant unrest in Iğdır, with accusations of the ruling party’s undue influence casting a shadow over the electoral process. The controversy highlighted concerns over political freedom in Turkey, especially regarding pro-Kurdish representation.
Mehmet Çirka, a local election board member from the DEM Party, hailed the reinstatement as a win for democracy. He reminded the public of the rigorous struggle that led to this outcome, underlining the importance of unity and perseverance in face of manipulations for undermining the public will.