"If there are parties of bosses and holdings, there is the Labour Party of workers and labourers. If there are alliances of banks, gangs and tyrants, there is the Labour and Freedom Alliance of the people."
The General Executive Board of the Labour Party (EMEP) announced its final declaration after its meeting held on 17-18 January where it also discussed the election process.
The statement said: "Our party will enter the elections within the alliance and as one of the alliance parties. In this process, EMEP both organises its own election activities and acts jointly with the alliance parties. If there are parties of bosses and holdings, there is the Labour Party of workers and labourers. If there are alliances of banks, gangs and tyrants, there is the Labour and Freedom Alliance of the people."
In the statement, it was stated that the AKP-MHP bloc announced the election date by pointing to 14 May, and that the election calendar announced before 6 April showed how the one-man rule trampled on the constitution, laws and especially the election law, especially Erdoğan's candidacy.
In the statement, it was noted that the regime risked all kinds of difficulties in order to survive and consolidate its power, "Political operations and bans, siege on İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, trustees, censorship of the press, attempts to shut down the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), etc. developments are examples of this. The 2023 elections are of critical importance for the masses of people who want work, bread, freedom and justice. In such a process, the organisation of the united struggle of workers and labourers and the unity of the forces of democracy are the only guarantees to disperse the dark clouds over the country. Our party will do its part to defeat the one-man rule and the AKP-MHP Alliance in the upcoming election. It calls on all forces in favour of labour, peace and democracy to act with a common attitude on this issue."
In the statement, it was stated that the Labour Party said "No" to the constitutional amendment proposal that the AKP wants to bring to the referendum and that this political move of the AKP, which is used by the AKP for social engineering and to secure its power, should not be given a premium.
Pointing out that the defeat of the one-man rule in the face of heavy exploitation, absolute poverty and despotic oppression is the expectation of the people in the upcoming elections, the Labour Party reiterated its call for all segments of the society to confront the one man with a social consensus for the presidential elections.
Reminding that EMEP is preparing for this process together with the Labour and Freedom Alliance in which EMEP takes part, the statement said, "The declaration announced to the public on 24 September by the Labour and Freedom Alliance against the two bourgeois alliances is the expression of our common programme as alliance parties. We will continue to unite the forces of labour, freedom and people around this programme with determination. In this direction, the meeting in İstanbul organised by our alliance parties gave hope to our people and increased self-confidence. We will continue to be in the fields together with friendly institutions and organisations, trade unions and professional organisations so that the demands of workers and labourers, Turkish, Kurdish and poor people of all nationalities and their demands for freedom have a voice in the squares."
In the statement, it was stated that the Labour Party headquarters called on all labourers, especially the working class, women and young people to organise and unite in EMEP, "EMEP is the revolutionary party of the working class. Our party's candidate lists are open to workers who sweat in the factory, workplace, whose labour is exploited, who take part in strikes and resistances. Our party will enter the elections within the alliance and as one of the alliance parties. In this process, EMEP both organises its own electoral work and acts jointly with the alliance parties. If there are parties of bosses and holdings, there is the Labour Party of workers and labourers. If there are alliances of banks, gangs and tyrants, there is the Labour and Freedom Alliance of the people."
In the statement, it was pointed out that the election economy of the government consists of giving with a spoon and taking back with a ladle, and the following statements were made:
"It is obvious that the poor people will be billed again. From the announced minimum wage to the salaries of pensioners and civil servants, the money in the pockets of labourers has evaporated rapidly. While the high inflation and the wave of hikes do not let the people breathe, monopolies and banks announce their profit records. Unrest is increasing in factories and workplaces and anger is brewing. The work stoppages and protests demanding an additional increase in wages and a decent life also show that the people's desire for change regarding the elections and the ground of struggle on the streets and in the workplaces must unite. The attitudes of the order opposition, which restrain the struggle of workers and labourers and refer their demands only to the ballot box, must be overcome. EMEP calls on workers and labourers and all our people to build such a platform of unity and struggle. (EVRENSEL DAILY)
Ceren Sözeri
Yusuf Karadaş
Aras Coşkuntuncel