The abbreviation of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, HEDEP, is to be changed following an objection by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of the Turkish Court of Cassation.
HEDEP spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan announced in a press statement in parliament on Friday that although they are preparing to appeal the court’s decision, they will change the abbreviation to avoid risks before the local elections in March.
The People’s Equality and Democracy Party was announced as the new name of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Green Left Party in October. However, the Court of Cassation on Thursday banned the party from using the abbreviation HEDEP, saying it resembled the closed People’s Democracy Party (HADEP).
Doğan called this new legal challenge from the Court of Cassation “an attempt to create a new legal trap” ahead of the upcoming local elections.
The spokeswoman recalled that HADEP had been disbanded and the two parties could not be confused, stressing that the demand to change the abbreviation was unfounded. She accused the Court of Cassation of manipulating the law, stating that the prosecutor’s office suggested changes not only related to the objection but also to the party’s regulations.
Doğan disclosed that preparations were underway to address the Court of Cassation’s objections to avoid any legal consequences. She hinted at a swift response within the bounds of the court’s requested changes, without compromising the party’s core principles.
She argued that the pre-emptive legal actions indicated the government’s fear of HEDEP’s success in the upcoming elections, and attributed this fear to the party’s commitment to a democratic governance model devoid of corruption and nepotism—a stark contrast to the ruling party’s practices.
Doğan further reaffirmed HEDEP’s determination, asserting that they would not be intimidated despite the legal and political challenges they face.
