HÜDA PAR’s Deputy Chairman Şahzade Demir has reviewed the party’s work in the past legislative year and set out its agenda for the new term, pledging continued efforts to address what he described as “unmet public expectations” in Parliament.

Speaking to ILKHA at the close of the legislative year, Demir said that despite having just four MPs, HÜDA PAR had succeeded in placing “hundreds of issues” on Parliament’s agenda, ranging from economic inequality to moral legislation.

“We are not just an Ankara-based party,” Demir said. “Our MPs travel across Türkiye, from east to west, north to south, staying in close contact with citizens and bringing their demands directly to the political centre.”

Over the past year, HÜDA PAR has tabled a wide array of bills and parliamentary questions. These range from measures aimed at combating substance addiction, protecting the traditional family structure, and introducing legal guarantees for the headscarf, to proposals for economic relief such as ensuring pensions do not fall below the minimum wage and offering tax exemptions for first-time home and car purchases.

The party has also championed a “student amnesty” for those removed from higher education, as well as an initiative to give Friday prayer leave to all employees, whether in the public or private sector.

A notable element of the party’s engagement has been its “demand platform,” an online portal where citizens submit issues directly to MPs. Demir said the initiative has generated significant participation, reflecting what he described as a “gap in mainstream political representation.”

“People from every corner of Türkiye are sending us requests. This shows a deep public need that we are determined to address in Parliament,” he added.

For the upcoming legislative year, Şahzade Demir announced that HÜDA PAR’s legal commission, comprising MPs and party legal experts, is preparing several bills to address pressing societal issues. These include addiction treatment reform to expand AMATEM centres and mandate treatment for young addicts, restrictions on gambling and alcohol sales with tighter betting controls and limits near schools and densely populated areas, options for non-coeducational classrooms to offer single-sex classes alongside existing coeducational settings for families who prefer them, and expanded support for mothers through a proposal granting retirement rights to women married for 25 years, covering both homemakers and working mothers.

Demir said these proposals reflect social expectations that are “too often overlooked” in mainstream political debate.

One of HÜDA PAR’s most high-profile measures—the 2023 bill targeting dual nationals accused of participating in genocide—remains pending before the General Assembly.

The bill calls for revoking the Turkish citizenship of individuals holding both Turkish and Israeli nationality who take part in military actions in Gaza, seizing their assets, and transferring them to humanitarian causes.

Initially met with procedural resistance, the proposal eventually received rare cross-party support to bypass committee review and be taken directly to the General Assembly—a decision opposed only by the CHP and DEM Party.

“Even if there is just one such individual, this law is essential as part of the fight against Zionism and crimes against humanity,” Demir said. “We call on the ruling party to act without delay.”

While HÜDA PAR does not have the 20 MPs required to form a parliamentary group, Demir insisted this has not prevented the party from influencing legislative discussions.

“Without group status, there are limitations—we cannot speak at will in the General Assembly or have the same influence in committees. But this has not stopped us from raising issues, tabling bills, and engaging with ministers directly,” he said.

HÜDA PAR, which secured four seats in the 2023 elections, positions itself as a values-driven party focused on moral, social, and economic issues that resonate with conservative voters.

The party’s agenda includes long-standing positions on family policy, religious freedom, and what it calls “protection of national identity” against foreign influence.

“Our approach is different. We are here not for positions or privileges, but to bring people’s concerns—often ignored by others—into the heart of political decision-making.”

Demir concluded by reiterating HÜDA PAR’s resolve to remain a voice for the people. “Our workload is immense because the public trusts us to represent them,” he said. “We will continue to meet with citizens, refine our proposals, and work tirelessly to turn their expectations into reality. This is not just our duty—it’s our moral obligation.”

The Deputy Chairman expressed optimism about the new term, despite the challenges of limited representation and political resistance to some proposals. “HÜDA PAR has shown that even with four MPs, we can make a significant impact,” he said. “We will keep pushing forward, ensuring the people’s voice is heard loud and clear in Ankara.”

With the new legislative term set to open in the autumn, HÜDA PAR’s proposals will again test how far a small but vocal party can shape debates in a Parliament dominated by larger blocs. (ILKHA)