Kurdish leader denies resignation rumor

Pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas on Tuesday has refuted claims that he will step down from his post due to intra-party struggle related to incoming local election. Demirtas held a press conference in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir after BDP cancelled its parliamentary group meeting amid deepening crisis. Group meeting represents an important platform to transmit party’s ideas and stance on a particular subject to wider public. “Resignation is not on the table. There is no extra ordinary congress until local elections,” Demirtas said during the press conference. However, he hinted that there will be review once the local election is over. According to reports, Demirtas requested an extra ordinary congress before local elections scheduled for March 2014; since the party authorities did not accept that proposal, Demirtas informed the party about his resignation. Before Demirtas’ press conference, BDP also denied the rumors. The party said on Monday that reports related to Demirtas’ resignation were not true. The 40-year-old Demirtas has been co-chair of the BDP since January 2010.