ABTTF President: “As ABTTF, we have only supported Turkish candidates in the general, regional, and local elections in our country. As I have clearly stated in my article, which is the subject of the news, we, as ABTTF, support Turkish candidates in the upcoming general elections. Ultimately, however, voting rights are personal in democracies. Everyone goes to the ballot box with their free will and votes for the candidate and political party they want and makes their choice.”
In the news titled “ABTTF opens ‘way’ for the votes to go to MeRA25 - the ‘next day’ scenario” published on the news site Komotinipress.gr on 5 April 2023, the last article written by Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) referring to the article, it is claimed that in our country Greece, through its president, ABTTF supports MeRA25 in the general elections to be held in Greece next May.
In the aforementioned news report, it is indicated that in the article of ABTTF President Halit Habip Oğlu who is presiding a non-government organisation (NGO) based in Germany with an office in Athens, it is alleged through a series of points why Western Thrace Turks should support MeRA25 and it is further noted that he called on Greek citizens living abroad to come to Greece at the time of the election in order to protect their votes in the elections and to vote not only for parties but also for certain candidates.
In the news report, where it is claimed that ABTTF’s attempt to open an office in Athens is an extremely well-organised initiative of the Turkish deep state, it is underscored that its foundations are based in 2020 and that ABTTF is cooperating with the German and Turkish Embassies in Athens as well as with the Movement United against Racism and Fascist Threat (KEERFA).
Furthermore, the news report also claims that in the context of the scenarios, MeRA25 (in Komotini) is expected to nominate names from close circles of the Turkish Consulate and that in case of a possible ‘‘defeated (SYRIZA, PASOK, MeRA25, etc.)’’ government coalition, deep state representatives will take part in the government. It is indicated that no response has been received yet from MeRA25 regarding this situation.
“First of all, I would like to express that, as seen in the news published on the news site komotinipress.gr, ABTTF’s press releases and my own articles are followed closely and with special interest by the Greek local press in our region. However, as komotinipress.gr claims, ABTTF cannot directly or indirectly support MeRA25 in the upcoming general elections in our country. As clearly stipulated in its statutes, ABTTF is an NGO that is committed to democracy and the rules of law, completely independent from political parties, state bodies and governments. As ABTTF, we have only supported Turkish candidates in the general, regional, and local elections in our country. As I have clearly stated in my article, which is the subject of the news, we, as ABTTF, support Turkish candidates in the upcoming general elections. In my article, I drew attention to the new election law and urged Western Thrace Turks living abroad to go to the region and vote for the Turkish candidates. The main and important thing for us as a community is how much space is given to our issues and to find solutions to our issues within the framework of the programmes and policies of the parties in which are Turkish parliamentary candidates. Ultimately, however, voting rights are personal in democracies. Everyone goes to the ballot box with their free will and votes for the candidate and political party they want and makes their choice”, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
