Pressure Mounts on Bulgaria's Ethnic Turkish Leader

The leader of the ethnic Turkish party DPS, Ahmed Dogan, has seen an unprecedented criticism, coming within party's ranks. Photo by BGNES

The founders of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) from the Bulgarian Lovech region are demanding the resignation of party leader Ahmed Dogan.

Bahtiyar Karaali, regional chair of the Lovech branch of DPS between 1997 and 2001 (when he was expelled from the party along with Osman Oktay), has sent an open letter to the media saying the DPS founders from the region support the dignified behavior of Kasim Dal, who resigned Wednesday from the party and his leadership position, and fully adhere to Dal's opinion.

"We believe these events are a natural reinstatement of DPS local founders, who were eliminated in 2001, placing Ahmed Dogan under the dependence of other political forces, violating the party's code, and deeply altering the party's national causes, priorities and values," the letter reads.

The document further voices hope Dogan will understand the political signs in Dal's move and will do whatever it takes to save the party, especially in the light of the upcoming local and presidential elections, and resign from the party's leadership post.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian ethnic Turks, who have immigrated to Turkey, say they are not surprised by Dal's decision. The head of DPS voters in Turkey, Enver Hatipoglu, told Darik radio, Dal's move was a red light for the party, adding the majority of Bulgarian Turks in Turkey support Dal's motives and approve of his statements.

Hatipoglu is, however, firm Dal does not aim at splitting the movement and such thing should not be allowed.

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