Female EP candidates of the FEP Party speak to AA: We are ambitious!

Friendship, Equality and Peace (FEP) Party, whose majority of the candidates are women, is preparing for the European Parliament elections to be held on 9 June.

FEP Party President Çiğdem Asafoğlu, who made statements to AA correspondent, said that she was happy and proud to assume the presidency of such a party as a woman.

Stating that 25 of the 42 candidates on his party's list for the elections are women, Asafoğlu pointed to the question "Why are there so few women in your cabinet?" posed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a press conference and said, "Mitsotakis answered as follows; 'Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find women engaged in active politics in Greece. That is why the number of our women is low." The 2024 European Parliament list of the Friendship Equality Peace Party is a response to this. While other Greek political parties are struggling to find women candidates, this year we have set out with 25 women who believe in their cause, who are fighters, mothers, sisters and sisters."

Asafoğlu expressed her hope that this will be a role model for the Turkish women of Western Thrace and stated that they received positive feedback about this picture during their village visits within the scope of the EP elections on 9 June.

Asafoğlu pointed out that Western Thrace Turkish women started to take place at the forefront in every field and platform and said, "We are very happy about this. Western Thrace Turkish women were always very brave. When we look at the photographs of 29 January, we can see how much the majority of women were there. She was always very brave, always devoted to her cause and had a fighting spirit."

"WOMEN WILL ALSO REPRESENT THE MACEDONIAN MINORITY"

Underlining that among the 25 female candidates there is Evgeniya Naçulidu representing the Macedonian minority in Edessa region, Asafoğlu expressed his satisfaction that the Macedonian minority will be heard by a woman politician.

"WESTERN THRACE TURKISH WOMEN ARE VERY STRONG"

MP candidate Sevkan Tahsinoğlu, a psychologist, also explained how she returned to Western Thrace after completing her education in Turkey and how she contributed to the struggle for existence here.

Stating that she gladly accepted the nomination offer, Tahsinoğlu emphasised that the fact that the majority of the candidates were women would be a role model for Turkish women in Western Thrace.

Tahsinoğlu said, "I believe that this situation will set an example for the generations that will come after us, for our young people. Western Thrace Turkish women are already very strong like all women in the world and bringing this to the forefront in a political party belonging to the Turkish community will of course set a very good example."

"THE HIGH NUMBER OF FEMALE CANDIDATES IS A ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG GIRLS"

Stating that the presence of women in politics means a broader perspective and inclusive policies, educator Nilay Mümin stated that the female perspective offers different and innovative approaches to solving social problems.

Mümin stated that this step not only strengthens gender equality but also creates a strong role model for young girls and women from the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and added: "More women in politics brings along a culture of empathy and reconciliation. This creates a more constructive political environment."

"THE WOMAN OF WESTERN THRACE HAS A PROVEN STRUCTURE"

Pointing out that the women of Western Thrace have a valuable, sacrificing, docile, harmonious and proven structure, educator Şükriye Mehmet noted that the participation of women in all areas of society is important for the progress of the minority.

Pointing out that 25 female candidates as well as very valuable male candidates are on the list, Mehmet emphasised that they are stronger together.

Gülcan Mümin stated that she returned to Greece after her education in Turkey in order to serve the Turkish Minority in Western Thrace and that woman is a very strong being due to her nature and it is possible to see this strength in every field.

"WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER, MEN AND WOMEN"

Sevtap Hint, who has been the Xanthi Branch Officer of the Western Thrace Higher Education Association for about 20 years, said that women in Western Thrace have always had a say and played an effective role in all decisions taken.

Stating that the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace also kept pace with the developing world, Hint said: "Nowadays, we have lawyers, politicians, educated women and these women have made their presence felt in our society in a very serious way."

Art teacher Zeynep Tevfikoğlu pointed out that there is a woman, a wife and a mother behind a successful man, as well as a man, a husband and a father behind a successful woman, and said, "We are stronger together, men and women, on this path."

Candidates Vildan Yaşar, Pelin Kocamolla, Sevcan Hacıali, Seher Mustafa, Sibel Abdullah Hasan, Elif Molla and Hatice Hasan expressed their thoughts on the recognition of the power of women, their fighting spirit, their versatility and the contribution of their place in politics to society.

AA