HDP's Temelli: Turkey's presidential system is a crisis

Duvar English

The left-wing, pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Sezai Temelli referred to Turkey's presidential system as a crisis, while speaking at meeting in Istanbul on Sept. 26.

Turkey's parliamentary system was transformed into a presidential system following a referendum heavily championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which was narrowly passed in 2017. The system, which has increased the scope of Erdoğan's executive powers, went into effect following last year's general election. 

“The crisis of capitalism is deepening. But regarding Turkey, our misfortune is that alongside the crisis of global capitalism we have the crisis of Erdoğan and the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP,” Temelli said. 

Temelli drew attention to the fact that the Turkish economy has receded by 30 percent in the past five year, and that per capita GDP has dropped from $12,000 to $8000. He highlighted the fact that the poorest areas of the country are the provinces in the southeast and eastern regions of the country which are inhabited by a majority-Kurdish population, adding that there were major problems regarding education, healthcare and social security. 

“The government today is one that is too closely acquainted with the neoliberal mindset, which thinks nothing of its own society and its own people, and believes everything is permissible for its own power,” Temelli said.