HDP delegation meets Unidas Podemos and Esquerra Republicana in Spanish Parliament

A delegation from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) met on Wednesday with representatives of Unidas Podemos (UP). The delegation, made up of Ebru Gunay, HDP spokesperson, Hisyar Ozsoy, HDP Diyarbakir MP and chair for the international commission, and Dersim Dag, Diyarbakir MP and head of the Youth Commission, met with Antonio Gómez-Reino, deputy-president of the Foreign Affairs Commission, Miguel Bustamante, UP deputy for IU-Andalucía, David Perejil and Esther Miranda, responsible for UP’s international area.

The use of chemical weapons by Turkey was addressed at the meeting, as well as the political and social context of the country, with special attention to the situation of women and young people.

The delegation has requested that pressure be exerted so that international organizations can access the areas invaded by Turkey as independent observers, something that has not been allowed so far. In addition, the HDP deputies stressed that its strategic objective at this time is to isolate Erdogan internationally given the war crimes perpetrated during his tenure.

Ebru Gunay stressed that Erdogan’s policy especially affects women, especially since Turkey abandoned the Istanbul Convention. “Laws are dictated in favour of the aggressors,” the HDP spokeswoman denounced. In addition, Gunay has indicated that while in the Spanish state there is a minister of equality, in her place in Turkey is the Ministry of the Family “where women are not recognized.”

Dersim Dag, in addition to pointing out the lack of equality between men and women, has denounced the terrible relationship that the Turkish state has with young people. “Young people are arrested, kidnapped and threatened so that they do not participate in politics,” she said. Dag has explained that these threats also extend to the relatives of politicized youths. It should be noted that in addition to all this, currently Turkey has exceeded 50% youth unemployment.

Both parties have agreed to work together on these issues. “Our will is to work in defense of human rights and to combat the difficulties in which young people and women find themselves, sectors that are also hit hard in Spain,” said Miguel Bustamante.

Anton Gómez-Reino has pointed out that the HDP is a fundamental ally because it is a political force that operates understanding the singularities of the territory, something in which his party is also interested. “Besides being comrades and agreeing on alliances, you have a key role in Turkey,” he stressed.

Both groups have agreed to hold talks on the aforementioned issues, and to continue forging alliances to build strength from parliamentary work.

The delegation arrived in Madrid with the aim of putting the Kurdish question on the agenda of Spanish politics.

Meeting with Esquerra Republicana

The delegation also met Marta Rosique, deputy in the Spanish Parliament for Esquerra Republicana, the Catalan Republican Left party in government in Catalonia.

The meeting focused on the relation of the Spanish state with Turkey on arms and the war crimes committed in Kurdistan under the command of Erdogan, as well as the current political landscape in Turkey.