MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

 Amed (Diyarbakır)- The presidential and general elections will be held in Turkiye on May 14,2023. The political parties have not yet announced their candidate lists for the general elections while women have already decided whom to support and vote. The Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) will support the candidates of the Labour and Freedom Alliance. The members of the movement have already begun to carry out activities for the upcoming election especially after the announcement of the election declaration by the Women’s Council of the Green Left Party. The TJA aims to unite women from all segments for the elections.

 

NuJINHA spoke to TJA activist Gülistan Sönük about the upcoming elections in Turkiye and their activities for the elections. “Women will reveal their strong will in the elections,” TJA activist Gülistan Sönük said.

 

‘Our aim is to have a strong women’s representation in parliament’

Noting that women have been often targeted by the current government, Gülistan Sönük said, “As women, our aim is to have a strong women’s representation in parliament so that we can protect our gains and rights. We see ourselves as the primary force in enacting the policies that all political parties actually mention in their election manifestos. Because we know that a government having less women representation cannot promise a future to anyone. On the contrary, such a government can only wage wars for their own interest. We also aim to solve all problems of our society that have been going on for years, in the most democratic ways in parliament.”

 

‘All Women should unite against this despotic government’

Underlining that they will raise their voices strongly against the current government, which has been trying to silence women for years, Gülistan Sönük said, “Women will directly vote for justice and equality in the upcoming elections. They (AKP government) have done their best until now in order to deprive women of their gains and rights. We will say no to these policies in the upcoming elections. The presidential and parliamentary elections are the elections for democracy. They are important not only for women but also for society. All women should unite against this despotic government before and after the election campaigns.”

‘We will reach all women’

Gülistan Sönük told us they would be everywhere to reach all women before the elections. “We will visit women at their home, on the streets, in villages and cities to listen to their demands. Their demands shape our next programs. Despite the February 6 earthquakes, women took to the streets on the International Women’s Day and on March 21 for Newroz. The enthusiasm and will of women will also mark May 14 (Elections). The current government is a misogynist government. Women are determined to have a more democratic Turkiye.”