Following the victory of the radical left coalition, Syriza, in the Greek elections, attention has turned to whether a similar coalition might emerge in Turkey before the general elections in June.
Following the victory of the radical left coalition, Syriza, in the Greek elections, attention has turned to whether a similar coalition might emerge in Turkey before the general elections in June. HDP MP and HDK co-spokesperson Ertuğrul Kürkçü spoke to ANF regarding the possibility that the HDP might fight the elections in alliance with the United June Movement (UJM). Kürkçü said that they were waiting for a response from the UJM, adding that conditions were suitable for a joint slate and that it was important that those who did not want President Erdoğan to obtain absolute constitutional powers to think about this question.
Kürkçü said it was not easy to fight the elections under any other name than the HDP, but that this was a technical detail. He said the HDP had not asked the UJM to join the HDP, rather that they had proposed joint activities. He added: “When talking about joint work we mean solidarity between social groups. We will remain open to joint activities until the last minute.”
‘We do not want to lose momentum’
Kürkçü said there was no obstacle to joint work, and that as a party they were not worried about whether they would exceed the ten per cent threshold. “Whether we get into parliament or not, the important thing is not to lose momentum,” said Kürkçü. He added that parliament itself was not important, but what was important was Erdoğan failing to achieve the 330 deputies that he needed to achieve his dictatorial fantasies.
Kürkçü said that in the event of the HDP receiving an increase of 0.3% in the vote they would gain 60 seats, meaning they had recovered 30 of these seats from the AKP, whereas for other parties to gain 5% would not change the balance of power. “Therefore, if people think of the election arithmetic they will realise that conditions are suitable for joint work,” he added.
‘To be distracted by the CHP would mean missing an opportunity’
Kürkçü said that he did not consider rumours that the UJM might contest the elections along with the CHP as credible, as the CHP would fight this election as it had previous ones, with a right wing, nationalist programme.
“The CHP has made no contribution to our project based on democratic devolution and equal citizenship for Kurds, Turks and all those who have suffered discrimination. It would therefore be to miss a genuine opportunity if we were to be distracted by the CHP,” he concluded.
