The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) officially launched the 24 June early election marathon this week. The HDP has been evaluating possible candidates between 28 April and 8 May through the candidates committee it has set up.

Applications are accepted in Amed and Van in Kurdistan. The deadline for submitting applications for hundreds of candidates is 8 May. 

HDP Party Council and Women Coordination Member, Nuran İmir, who is in the candidates committee, talked about the candidate application process and how candidates are selected.

Demir said that the deadline for HDP deputy candidatures is today, 5 May. "In the previous elections, - she said - candidates could apply directly, but this time we have centres in Kurdistan, Amed and Van, and again in Cukurova. We receive applications from Marmara in Istanbul and from Central Anatolia in Ankara. We also have pilot centres on other sites”. 

Women and Young people

Saying that there is a serious flow of young people Imir shared the following: "The demand of youth is very high. The level of participation between the ages of 18 and 40 is very good, and there is a very good demand from women”.

Talking about the profiles of the candidates, İmir added: "We have a really variegated candidates profile that reflects all sorts of social dynamics within the HDP”.

Language Teacher

Sinan Çınar, a language teacher from Riha's Siverek district, said that he preferred HDP for his nomination. Çınar stated that he believes that everyone should contribute to building peace and for this reason he put his name forward. He said: "I believe that it is not right to leave this burden only on the backs of some people.That’s why I put my name forward, because the HDP can make a difference”.

A cook and mother from Sur

Remziye Tosun, who stayed in the self-administration areas until the last day with her baby in her arms during the curfew in Sur, says that she is currently working as a cook in an institution and explains why she put her name forward for the HDP: "I lived in Sur for 20 years. After our borough was destroyed by tanks and bombs, I and my 4-month-old daughter, Beritan, stayed prison for 1.5 years. There I learned what it means to be a woman in jail and I came to value freedom even more”.

The pensioner

Nurettin Turgay, is from Amed. He retired after being a Professor at the Faculty of Theology at Dicle University. He decided to put his name forward for the HDP and he said: "I am a religious person. In the Quran we are taught that Assyrians, Armenians, Alevis, Kurds and Turks we are all sons of Allah. I saw the HDP so close to myself and wanted to take part in this party”.

Mechanic Technician

Retired Mechanical Technician Selam Tutumlu, said he put his name forward for the HDP “because I believe it is a party for all different people”.