Turkey's pro-Kurdish party could be the deciding factor in next month's election, playing a crucial role that may tip the balance against 20-year-old president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has announced it won't field its own presidential candidate, potentially paving the way for opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu to run.
A turning point is shaping Turkey's future, says the HDP in a statement. Not putting forward a presidential candidate allows supporters of Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu to vote freely.
Erdogan has cracked down on the party, imprisoning former leader Selahattin Demirtas for nearly seven years. The party faces possible closure by court over suspected ties with militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The HDP's decision may impact Erdogan's hold on power. Kurds make up 15-20% of Turkey's population and have traditionally voted for the AK Party.
The HDP wants to play the game wisely and avoid a polarized election climate, says deputy co-chair Hisyar Ozsoy.
A post-Erdogan Turkey may give Kurdish parties more breathing space. The HDP has been at odds with Erdogan since he came to power in 2002.
Kurdish voters have recently left Erdogan's camp, according to analysts.
Iran blamed Israel for a killing that killed an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer in Syria on Friday, vowing to respond to the attack.
China and Brazil are reportedly ditching USD as they agree to use their own currencies in trade.
A popular meme was created to mark China's decision to drop the US dollar. The meme shows two men representing China and Brazil posing in front of a grave labeled "USD."
A turning point is shaping Turkey's future, says the HDP in a statement. Not putting forward a presidential candidate allows supporters of Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu to vote freely.
Erdogan has cracked down on the party, imprisoning former leader Selahattin Demirtas for nearly seven years. The party faces possible closure by court over suspected ties with militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The HDP's decision may impact Erdogan's hold on power. Kurds make up 15-20% of Turkey's population and have traditionally voted for the AK Party.
The HDP wants to play the game wisely and avoid a polarized election climate, says deputy co-chair Hisyar Ozsoy.
A post-Erdogan Turkey may give Kurdish parties more breathing space. The HDP has been at odds with Erdogan since he came to power in 2002.
Kurdish voters have recently left Erdogan's camp, according to analysts.
Iran blamed Israel for a killing that killed an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer in Syria on Friday, vowing to respond to the attack.
China and Brazil are reportedly ditching USD as they agree to use their own currencies in trade.
A popular meme was created to mark China's decision to drop the US dollar. The meme shows two men representing China and Brazil posing in front of a grave labeled "USD."
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think china & brazil are gonna be the ones running the show now... trade wars are crazy, but who knows what's next? 
meanwhile in turkey, if the hdp doesn't put up a candidate, kilicdaroglu might have a shot... fingers crossed for some change 
! I think the HDP making that move is like a big X mark on Erdogan's campaign trail 
. It's like, they're trying to avoid all the drama and keep it chill 
. And, tbh, it's kinda cool that Kilicdaroglu might have a shot at becoming president 
. Like, it's crazy how much power the Kurdish population holds – 15-20% of Turkey's population is no joke 
! And, omg, Iran blaming Israel for that attack in Syria? That's some serious tension 
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. What do you guys think? Should Erdogan go? 
and I gotta say, it's interesting how the pro-Kurdish party is playing its cards wisely by not fielding a presidential candidate. It's like they're saying, 'Hey, we don't want to get all partisan and create a messy polarized climate.' That makes sense for them, especially after Erdogan has been cracking down on them and imprisoning their leaders.
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. I guess you could say they're finally burying the US dollar in a metaphorical grave 
. But for real, this is some big news!
Erdogan's rule has been pretty brutal, & now the hdp is playing a huge role in opposing him 
hopefully this will lead to a more inclusive gov that represents all turkish ppl, not just erdogan's loyal followers 
. A post-Erdogan Turkey could be a beautiful thing, more space for Kurdish parties to thrive. Fingers crossed! 
I think the HDP making their own candidate a no-go is going to be such a big deal! Like, Erdogan's been riding roughshod over Turkey for ages and it's time someone takes him down. I've got my fingers crossed that Kemal Kilicdaroglu is gonna bring some fresh vibes to the table 
And can we talk about how crazy it is that Erdogan's been keeping those Kurdish people in line with threats of prison and stuff? 
It's just so not right! Anyway, I'm all about a post-Erdogan Turkey where everyone gets a fair shot 
And btw, has anyone seen the meme about China ditching USD? 
That's some funny stuff right there 
. I mean, what's the real motive here? Are they trying to increase their chances of winning or just avoiding the limelight? 
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hisyar ozsoy from the HDP party seems really smart tho, they're trying not to make it a super polarized election thingy. but what if Erdogan loses? will the Kurds finally get some rights and stuff? 
Plus, isn't this just gonna lead to more people voting for whoever's not them? 
It's like they're playing politics with themselves... or is that just how it goes in Turkey? 
and btw, who knows how Iran's gonna react when they say Israel did it 
. I mean, the HDP not fielding a presidential candidate is like, totally genius move 
. The fact that Kurds are leaving his camp is like, a major blow to his base 
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it'll be so refreshing to see a new leader take over and maybe bring some much-needed change to Turkey 
. They don't wanna get caught up in the drama and create a polarized election climate. Erdogan's been roughin' it up on them for years, imprisoning Demirtas and all that jazz 
. Now they're tryin' to avoid gettin' dragged down by his BS. Meanwhile, Kilicdaroglu is just chillin', waitin' for the perfect moment to strike 
. If the HDP's strategy works out, it could give Erdogan a run for his money. And who knows, maybe a post-Erdogan Turkey will be like, super chill and peaceful? 
we can learn from their decision to stay above the fray and focus on makin moves not just reactin to drama 