HDP asks for the court's decision to be issued after elections

The co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said that they will file a request in the closure case against HDP for the panel's decision to be issued after the elections.

Hours after a key hearing of the trial in Turkey's Constitutional Court on Tuesday, HDP co-chair Mithat Sancar told Haberturk's host Fatih Altayli in a live broadcast:

"I always refrain from making negative remarks about the members of the panel. I have also stated that I would like to keep on believing that the judges will issue a ruling in accordance with law and conscience. However, the situation surrounding the judiciary in Turkey is all too obvious. It would be naive to say that the decision will be taken strictly in the courtroom. We are not naive."

He continued:

"The government will evidently have an influence on the court's decision. The timing of the decision is crucial. I believe it would be the wisest move in terms of law and conscience to postpone the announcement of the decision till after the elections. We will file a request for this with the Constitutional Court."

Stating that a possible ban on HDP would not prevent them form carrying out an independent political struggle, Sancar stressed that a ban before the elections would still undermine the activities of HDP, the fairness of the elections and democratic processes.

He added:

"We set up a work group after the indictment has been accepted, and we considered and worked on all options. Our preparations to find alternative ways to compete in the parliamentary elections began very early, and they have been completed. Can they block all paths? In order to do that, they have to declare very clearly that they have suspended the Constitution. And we will still find another path even if all paths have been blocked. The coming days should be a period of time that brings together democracy with the the Republic."