Civil society seeks joint appearance of three presidential candidates on TV
An initiative named Small National Assemblies of Turkey (TkMM), a civil initiative aimed at building a bridge between civil society and lawmakers, has called on the three presidential candidates to appear on the same television program and respond to questions from representatives of civil society organizations (CSO).
âThree candidates on television together,â is a slogan being used by prominent human rights activist Åanar Yurdatapan, who is leading the initiative.
âLetâs not have a journalist or a few journalists sitting across from them, but letâs have civil society representatives. TkMMâs representatives are ready to come together to ask what the people have in their minds and hearts,â Yurdatapan said in a statement released earlier this week.
The activist also proposed a format in which each question would be limited to 15 seconds and each answer would be limited to two minutes.
âThere will be no obstacles in front of the freedom of expression in this program, but of course, preventing the use of freedom of expression will be stopped,â Yurdatapan said. âWill it happen, will they come together?â he asked while recalling that Ekmeleddin Ä°hsanoÄlu, nominated by two major opposition parties and supported by about a dozen of minor opposition parties, and the other opposition presidential hopeful, Peoplesâ Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin DemirtaÅ, have already voiced their willingness to partake in such a program with their competitors.
âThere is no reason for us not to believe that they will stand behind their remarks. What if [Recep Tayyip] ErdoÄan doesnât come?â he asked, referring to the third candidate, nominated by the...
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