HDP Kars candidate Ayhan Bilgen said his party had a project that suited the cultural mosaic of the province and called on local people to cast their votes for the HDP at the 7 June elections. Bilgen added that the AKP government had not solved existing problems in Kars, and that in order to have peace and a free life the HDP aimed to win both seats in the province.

We spoke to HDP Kars No. 1 candidate Ayhan Bilgen regarding problems in the province and the election atmosphere.

'We have been the focus of interest'

How is the HDP’s election campaign going in Kars?

We launched the campaign by opening election offices. We then set up neighbourhood, village and small business commissions and completed our planning for the polling stations. We have started touring the province in vehicles equipped with loudspeakers and we have attracted great interest. The HDP may now be in front, depending on whether the other parties unite against us.

Are the MHP and AKP in an alliance against you in Kars?

Kurdish voters in Kars cast their ballots for us or the AKP. AKP voters are angry that the AKP’s Kurdish candidate is bottom of the party list. Hence we expect some AKP voters to switch to the HDP. 65% of the people in the province are Kurdish, and as one of our candidates is Azeri we hope to get their votes too.

What are the main problems in the province?

The economy in Kars is based on agriculture and livestock farming. There is hardly any industry, not even light industry. Agricultural factories have closed down, and even the sugar beet factory is facing closure. Kars also has potential in the tourism sector, but this has not been developed. Another problem is the fact that the border with Armenia is closed, which adversely affects businesses in the province.

Why is the border still closed?

The border used to be open, but it was the decision of the government in Ankara to close it. The people here want the border to reopen, but this is a sensitive political issue, as you know.

‘Every year many people leave the province’

What has the AKP done for Kars during its 13 years in office?

The ruling party has done nothing for the province. It used to run local government here, but now we have a MHP municipality. Every year people migrate to the big cities. Local people say: “Nothing has been done since the Russians left nearly a century ago.” People do not expect anything from the government. They are waiting for the Russians to come back and repair things! Income is very low here. Even Iğdır, which used to be part of Kars province, is ahead of us.

What kind of support do you have?

There is a groundswell of support. Kurds who have voted for other parties in the past are examining their consciences and saying they will vote for the HDP to ensure it exceeds the threshold.

There was an attack on you a few days ago?

Half a dozen people organised by a fascist group. Even MHP voters were angry about it, and shopkeepers protested, although the police took no action. So such provocations are unlikely to receive support.

'We expect to get both seats'

What do the latest polls say about the situation in Kars?

We are leading here. Most people agree this is the case. We therefore expect to win both seats.

How do you assess Erdoğan’s sacrificing of the process of resolution for the elections? 

He has given up on Kurdish votes and is trying to get the votes of the MHP supporters. I don’t see this as a tactical move. I think his first preference after the elections will be a coalition with the MHP.

'The HDP is an opportunity and a guarantee for the peoples’

Why should the people of Kars vote for you?

Kars was a revolutionary province in the 1970s, but regressed in the 1980s. Today Kars has a multi-cultural character. The HDP is an opportunity and a guarantee for all these communities to coexist. Therefore we ask people to vote for the HDP.