Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has held a press conference on the party's preparations for the local elections in 2014 after the opening of the party headquarters in Ankara on Wednesday.

The opening and press conference was joined by HDP co-chairs Sebahat Tuncel and Ertuğrul Kürkçü, HDP deputy chair and Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Istanbul MP Levent Tüzel.

Speaking at the press conference, HDP co-chair Sebahat Tuncel remarked that the HDP was an umbrella that involved a large number of organizations including women's movements, LGBT circles. Tuncel also saluted all workers on the occasion of 4th December, World's Miners Day.

Tuncel pointed out that local elections shouldn't overshadow Turkey's agenda, and added that; “The state must initiate a new negotiation with the society and this negotiation, as well as the need for a new constitution and the democratic resolution process, mustn't be made a victim of elections”.

Speaking after, HDP co-chair Ertuğrul Kürkçü underlined that the HDP wasn't party to any kind of affiliation and would participate in the elections on the basis of its own candidates and program. “We represent the popular sovereignty and we therefore consider local elections to be an opportunity for the practice of a new governance in local administrations”, Kürkçü underlined and added that they would stand with the representatives of different peoples and beliefs against the two dominant parties of the system, AKP and CHP.

Stating that the HDP will take part in the elections in 60 cities, Kürkçü announced that Sırrı Süreyya Önder, former Istanbul deputy of the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party), has been nominated to be a candidate for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Kürkçü said this was their answer to the demand of the people who wanted to vote for Önder who stopped construction equipment and prevented them from cutting the trees in Istanbul's Gezi Park late May.

Kürkçü remarked that they would try to activate local democracy and the policy of local administration throughout Turkey, and struggle for ensuring equal representation of women and the co-chair system in all local administrations and municipalities.

Kürkçü noted that the candidates nominated for İzmir and Ankara would be determined by people in the coming days, and added that the HDP will also nominate candidates in the provinces of Malatya, Erzincan and Maraş, and the BDP in Mersin.

Speaking after, HDP Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder criticized the CHP (Republican People's Party) for hypothecating the votes of left-wing circles without performing any works and making any efforts, and the AKP government and Istanbul Municipality for displaying a very negative approach towards the Gezi protests.

Önder said his nomination for candidateship is his answer to those who demand undercover support from them.