Following March 31 Municipal Elections in Turkey, HDP had won with over 50% in dozens of cities where elected mayors had been previously replaced by appointed trustees. Following the elections, several elected mayors had been denied their mandate to become the mayor officially due to having been dismissed from public offices. Of the remaining mayors that assumed the municipal charge, 3 metropolitan co-mayors have been dismissed this morning and police operations targeted hundreds of HDP members.

GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT FOR APPOINTED OFFICIALS

AKP group deputy chair Bülent Turan, "if there is going to be any criticism regarding appointment of trustees, it is 'why has it been so delayed?' this is the question that should be asked." Government ally MHP leader Bahçeli called Minister of Interior soylu to declare his support for dismissal of elected mayors in Diyarbakır, Van and Mardin, and appointment of trustees. Fatherland Party VP leader Doğu Perinçek announced support for Ministry of Interior's dismissal of elected HDP mayors in Diyarbakır, Van and Mardin, "allowing HDP to govern municipalities is bullets against our soldiers; HDP must be shut down."

CALLS FOR PROTEST AGAINST DISMISSAL OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

?Selçuk Mızraklı 62,93%

?Bedia Özgökçe Ertan 53,83%

?Ahmet Türk 56,24%.

HDP Central Executive Committee declared, "this dismissals are not just a problem of the Kurdish people and HDP but all peoples of Turkey and all democratic forces across the country. Do not keep quiet, silence is approval." 22 HDP members detained in Muğla's Sınırsızlık Square while protesting against dismissal of elected HDP mayors in Diyarbakır, Van and Mardin. Saadet Party vice-chair Birol Aydın issued a statement, "why were those permitted to run in elections only months ago are being dismissed today? This decision of dismissal is far from reason for Turkey and the region's future." Saadet Party chair Karamollaoğlu, "dismissal of elected mayors of Diyarbakır, Van and Mardin is to declare oversight on the nation's will. It is neither within democracy nor justice to dismiss someone who has not been sentenced to prison term."

IS CHP THE NEXT TARGET?

REACTIONS FROM CHP

Read columnist Evren Barış Yavuz's "Impressions on the Deeds of Appointed Trustee Mayor in Van" Read the developments of the second day: "Dismissal of Elected HDP Co-Mayors Cause Reactions: MPs wounded, Journalists Detained"