284 former parliamentarians protest Halk TV receivership, call for early elections

Two hundred and eighty-four former ministers, members of parliament, and senators supporting the YENİ Party published a joint statement titled "Our Call to Our People" following the October 14 appointment of a receiver to Halk TV and the suspension of broadcasts. The statement characterizes the receivership as contrary to the constitution and universal principles of law, and demands an end to receivership practices and that elections be held as soon as possible.

The appointment of a receiver to Halk TV is not a first in Turkish media history. Similar interventions in independent broadcast outlets have occurred in the past; however, a joint response of this scale bearing the signatures of former parliamentarians has not been seen before.

According to the statement, signatories are also particularly critical of the West's silence on this development. Financial Times Istanbul correspondent John Paul Rathbone noted in a report published the same day that Western governments have relegated press freedom criticism to the background while deepening defense and trade agreements with Ankara, citing visits to Turkey by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as examples.