Sezai Temelli, Deputy Group Chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), held a press conference in Parliament.
Temelli expressed deep sorrow over the boat disaster off the coast of Bodrum, where many refugees lost their lives and 21 people were rescued and injured. He said that prolonged wars in the Middle East have displaced millions of people and that these conflicts are the root cause of the refugee crisis.
Omnibus bill
Sezai Temelli said the omnibus bill submitted by the Planning and Budget Commission is currently being debated in the General Assembly, stressing that Parliament is wasting time on such regulations. Underlining that Turkey is an earthquake-prone country, he said: “In a country where the February 6 earthquakes took place, it is necessary to recognize how important such regulations are. Yet we are once again faced with a legal arrangement shaped by a centralist mindset that prioritizes urban rent and economic interests. This law is no different from previous ones. Once again, we see a form of legislative engineering. This omnibus bill mentality continues. An approach is being prepared that effectively bypasses Parliament and ignores its participatory and oversight functions.”
Urban rights
Sezai Temelli stated that a regulation is being prepared that excludes geologists, geophysicists and other experts, while centralizing the process and transferring it to the Housing Development Administration (TOKI) in a way that prioritizes interests. He said such laws are unnecessary and emphasized that the solution lies in an approach based on urban rights and the strengthening of local governments. Temelli added that the government is targeting municipalities through trustee appointments and operations, weakening local administrations, and gradually eroding urban rights in the process.
Animal rights
Sezai Temelli criticized the draft laws on animal rights currently on the agenda. He said they reject regulations that restrict animals’ living spaces and damage nature, adding that such policies disrupt ecological balance. He also addressed the bill known publicly as the “land law,” stating that it poses serious threats to nature and animal life. He said: “This approach reflects a mindset that would turn the country into something like Texas. It grants people the authority to hunt animals that enter their living spaces. This amounts to a declaration of war against animals.”
Temelli also addressed the bill to be discussed tomorrow in the Parliamentary Committee on Family, Labor and Social Affairs, saying that despite claims of protecting the family and children, it actually serves as a tool of pressure and a monolithic approach. He said: “Whenever the words ‘protection’ or ‘security’ are used, they are followed by new measures of repression. This bill, too, is far from genuinely protecting families and children and instead reflects a centralist approach.”
He added that the protection of families and children should not remain merely rhetorical, stating: “Families and children must be protected through democratic rights, social rights and economic guarantees.”
Special law
Sezai Temelli evaluated the gap between what the public is discussing and the agenda of Parliament and said: “Should this really be Parliament’s agenda? This is not how the public is debating things; society is discussing different issues. Expectations from Parliament are different. So, what should be on the agenda? First and foremost, the most widely discussed issue is the special law. It is still not on Parliament’s agenda. It is being discussed outside Parliament through various statements. The debate about slowing down one week and speeding up the next, almost like a marching band, revolves around timing rather than substance. But there is no proposal. There is no draft. There is no concrete plan. Yet this should be Parliament’s primary agenda, because many regulations in different areas depend on whether this law is adopted.
There should be no delay on this matter. The crises Turkey faces both domestically and internationally, along with ongoing developments, show the urgency of taking steps toward a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. I hope that without further delay, sincere and meaningful discussions, serious dialogue and the necessary steps will be taken.”
Judiciary
Sezai Temelli recalled that there are 107 detained defendants in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality case and stressed that a fair trial requires release of pending trial. He said it is unacceptable that Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ remain in prison despite rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the Kobane case. Temelli called for an end to political interference in the judiciary, stating: “The judiciary must not be used to shape politics, and politics must not interfere in the judiciary.”
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