Turkey's pro-Kurdish party has emerged as a kingmaker in the country's upcoming election, playing a decisive role that may just tip the balance enough to unseat two-decade ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In a key setback for the Turkish president and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) last month announced that it would not put forward its own presidential candidate, a move analysts say allows its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival.
The HDP's decision not to field a candidate came just three days after head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's main rival, visited the party's co-chairs. He told reporters that the solution to Turkey's problems, "including the Kurdish problem," lies in parliament.
Analysts say the HDP's influence may be crucial in determining the course of Turkey's politics. The party has historically been a major player in Turkish politics, and its supporters are widely spread across the country.
The HDP was founded in 2012 with a number of aims, including "peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict." However, its influence has been severely curtailed by the government in recent years. The party's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years, and the party faces possible closure by a court for suspected collusion with the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and affiliated groups.
Despite this, the HDP remains a major force in Turkish politics, and its decision not to field a candidate is seen as a significant development. Analysts say that the party's influence may be crucial in determining the outcome of the upcoming election, which could have far-reaching implications for Turkey's future.
"The HDP knows that its position is key to the outcome of next month's vote, but that it's also in a delicate situation," said Hisyar Ozsoy, deputy co-chair of the HDP and a member of parliament from the predominantly Kurdish province of Diyarbakir. "We want to play the game wisely, and we need to be very careful."
The Turkish government has been trying to link the HDP to the PKK but has so far failed to prove a real connection. The party's relationship with Erdogan has been strained in recent years, and the government has taken steps to limit its influence.
However, the HDP remains a powerful force in Turkish politics, and its decision not to field a candidate is seen as a significant development. Analysts say that the party's influence may be crucial in determining the outcome of the upcoming election, which could have far-reaching implications for Turkey's future.
As the election approaches, analysts are closely watching the HDP's strategy, which could determine the course of Turkish politics for years to come.
The HDP's decision not to field a candidate came just three days after head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's main rival, visited the party's co-chairs. He told reporters that the solution to Turkey's problems, "including the Kurdish problem," lies in parliament.
Analysts say the HDP's influence may be crucial in determining the course of Turkey's politics. The party has historically been a major player in Turkish politics, and its supporters are widely spread across the country.
The HDP was founded in 2012 with a number of aims, including "peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict." However, its influence has been severely curtailed by the government in recent years. The party's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years, and the party faces possible closure by a court for suspected collusion with the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and affiliated groups.
Despite this, the HDP remains a major force in Turkish politics, and its decision not to field a candidate is seen as a significant development. Analysts say that the party's influence may be crucial in determining the outcome of the upcoming election, which could have far-reaching implications for Turkey's future.
"The HDP knows that its position is key to the outcome of next month's vote, but that it's also in a delicate situation," said Hisyar Ozsoy, deputy co-chair of the HDP and a member of parliament from the predominantly Kurdish province of Diyarbakir. "We want to play the game wisely, and we need to be very careful."
The Turkish government has been trying to link the HDP to the PKK but has so far failed to prove a real connection. The party's relationship with Erdogan has been strained in recent years, and the government has taken steps to limit its influence.
However, the HDP remains a powerful force in Turkish politics, and its decision not to field a candidate is seen as a significant development. Analysts say that the party's influence may be crucial in determining the outcome of the upcoming election, which could have far-reaching implications for Turkey's future.
As the election approaches, analysts are closely watching the HDP's strategy, which could determine the course of Turkish politics for years to come.
think this is gonna be interesting... Erdogan's in trouble and HDP's decision not to put up a candidate might just change everything. 
their supporters are spread all over the country so it's likely to make a difference. hope they can pull off something good for Turkey 
Erdogan's been in power for two decades and it's hard to imagine him giving up control without a fight 
But if the pro-Kurdish HDP plays their cards right, they might just be able to knock him off his throne 
It could be the key to unseating Erdogan and changing the course of Turkish politics forever 
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i mean i went for a walk in the park and saw this crazy old guy playing with his grandkid's puppy 
it was so adorable! anyway back 2 turkey i dont get why they gotta make politics so complicated lol 
but seriously the hdp thing sounds like its gonna be super interesting lets see how it all plays out 
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 20-year rule is about to get slippin' 
! it's all about playing the game wisely, right? hisyar ozsoy is so low key but also super smart 
i mean we know the gov has been trying to link the HDP to the PKK but like they're not gonna give in 
. this election is gonna be SO intense 
what a game changer for turkey's politics, right? 
. The HDP's decision is like a masterclass in trolling the gov, and I'm here for it 
about this news!! so it looks like the pro-Kurdish party is kinda a game changer in turkey's upcoming election 
analysts are saying that the HDP's influence is super important in determining the course of turkey's politics and it's wild how the party is still a major player despite being curtailed by the government for years 
I mean, we all know Erdogan's been in power for so long and he's got his whole machine going, but the thought of him potentially being ousted by something as big as the HDP... it's just wild. 
And what's crazy is that Erdogan's trying to link the HDP to the PKK, like, come on man! The HDP's been so unfairly targeted and their relationship with the PKK has always been a bit murky anyway... but still, this is just another level of intimidation tactics. 
! It gives Erdogan's main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu a chance to win 
. The HDP's influence has been curtailed by the government in recent years 
, but they're still a force to be reckoned with 
. If they're able to mobilize their voters to support Erdogan's main rival instead, it could potentially give him a huge boost in votes 
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. i mean, if they're gonna play it cool and not rock the boat now, what happens when the votes are cast? will they still be able to pull off that upset against Erdogan or was this all just a strategic maneuver to get ahead of the game? 
where the HDP is like the pawn that's about to jump out and change everything 
and 1.5 million followers on Facebook 
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. And according to a Pew Research Center survey in 2020, 67% of Turks consider themselves secular, which is consistent with the HDP's values 
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According to a report by the Brookings Institution in 2024, if the HDP wins the election, it could lead to significant reforms and changes in Turkey's politics 
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