The peoples of Turkey will go to the polls for the presidential and 28th term parliamentary elections on May 14. Lawyer Fırat Vural spoke to ANF about what is at stake in the upcoming elections.

In a reference to the pre-election moves of the AKP-MHP government, Vural emphasized that the ruling bloc was already afraid of losing the upcoming elections. According to the lawyer, the Labour and Freedom Alliance offers an alternative to the peoples in response to the fears disseminated by the AKP-MHP fascist government. Vural said: “For the first time after July 15 (coup attempt in 2016), the AKP-MHP fascism may face a defeat in the elections in Turkey. The government is already afraid of it. Since the Labour and Freedom Alliance will receive a high rate of votes and form a strong parliamentary group, the government will not be able to pass bills in its favour. Regardless of the new President and the new government, the Labour and Freedom Alliance will interrupt the policies of war and confront the future governments that will try to institutionalize fascism in Turkey and Kurdistan.”

Vural pointed out that the social and political problems of the country stemmed from the war in Kurdistan. He continued: “The economic crisis, political problems, war crimes committed by AKP-MHP fascism in Kurdistan after the 2018 elections have taken place because of the motions and laws passed in the parliament.  Should the Labour and Freedom Alliance increase its votes and the number of its deputies, it will become the main opposition party in the parliament in Kurdistan and Turkey.”

According to Vural, “All democrats from Kurdistan and Turkey should vote for the Labour and Freedom Alliance in this election and actively participate in its campaign until May 14. The votes of the Kurds and democrats in Europe will also contribute to the election of deputies in many cities. In the last 8 years, the Turkish state has been trying to overcome its crisis by imposing a war against the Kurds.”

Vural also addressed the importance of casting votes and protecting ballot boxes. He concluded: “Following the earthquake disaster, we have seen the Turkish presidential system’s failure to offer solutions to the problems of society. It became evident that Erdogan, the AKP-MHP fascism and its allies do not promise hope to the peoples in Turkey and Kurdistan, and their policies will no longer achieve results. The Labour and Freedom Alliance has evolved into Turkey's main opposition. Should the alliance increase its votes and the number of its deputies and win over 100 seats in the parliament, it would turn the parliament into the center to discuss the Kurdish question. For this very reason, it is important that the Kurds and democrats in Kurdistan, Turkey and Europe go to the polls and take care of the ballot boxes on election day.”