Turkey's pro-Kurdish party may hold the key to Erdogan's political fate. The People's Democratic Party (HDP), a member of Turkey's parliament, has announced that it will not field its own presidential candidate in the upcoming elections, allowing supporters of main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu to vote for him instead.
The move is seen as a strategic decision by the HDP, which faces possible closure by court due to suspected ties with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and affiliated groups. Despite this, the party's influence may determine the course of Turkey's politics.
Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been criticized for its crackdown on the HDP since it began chipping away at his voter base. The party's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years, and many Kurdish voters have traditionally voted for Erdogan's AKP.
However, with Kilicdaroglu as a main rival, the opposition hopes that the HDP will support him to unseat Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for over two decades. Analysts say that the HDP is in a precarious position, facing accusations of ties to the PKK and possible closure by court.
If the opposition sees the HDP as allied with Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's AKP may use its influence in the media to discredit him. The Turkish government has also tried to link the HDP to the PKK, but so far failed to prove any real connection.
The HDP's decision not to field a candidate is seen as a turning point that will shape Turkey's future and society. Hisyar Ozsoy, deputy co-chair of the HDP, said that his party wants to play the game wisely and avoid a "contaminated political climate" where elections are polarized between ultra-nationalist discourse against Kilicdaroglu.
The outcome of the Turkish election is crucial for Erdogan's hold on power. The HDP knows its position is key to determining the course of Turkey's politics, but it also faces a delicate situation.
The move is seen as a strategic decision by the HDP, which faces possible closure by court due to suspected ties with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and affiliated groups. Despite this, the party's influence may determine the course of Turkey's politics.
Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been criticized for its crackdown on the HDP since it began chipping away at his voter base. The party's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years, and many Kurdish voters have traditionally voted for Erdogan's AKP.
However, with Kilicdaroglu as a main rival, the opposition hopes that the HDP will support him to unseat Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for over two decades. Analysts say that the HDP is in a precarious position, facing accusations of ties to the PKK and possible closure by court.
If the opposition sees the HDP as allied with Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's AKP may use its influence in the media to discredit him. The Turkish government has also tried to link the HDP to the PKK, but so far failed to prove any real connection.
The HDP's decision not to field a candidate is seen as a turning point that will shape Turkey's future and society. Hisyar Ozsoy, deputy co-chair of the HDP, said that his party wants to play the game wisely and avoid a "contaminated political climate" where elections are polarized between ultra-nationalist discourse against Kilicdaroglu.
The outcome of the Turkish election is crucial for Erdogan's hold on power. The HDP knows its position is key to determining the course of Turkey's politics, but it also faces a delicate situation.
, you never know what's gonna happen next. If they support Kilicdaroglu, they could be helping Erdogan get re-elected which would be a major blow to the opposition 
. But if they don't, it might just give Kilicdaroglu the chance to take down Erdogan and shake things up in Turkey 
. Either way, it's clear that the HDP is in a tough spot and needs to play their cards carefully 
. It's like they're walking on eggshells, waiting for the other shoe to drop 
. Can't say I blame them though, they've been through some rough stuff lately 
.
. They're basically giving Kemal Kilicdaroglu free reign to campaign against Erdogan, which could be super beneficial for him. But at the same time, this move could also backfire and make the opposition look weak 
. The HDP is in such a precarious position with all these court closures and media scrutiny 
... it's like they're walking on eggshells. I hope they can navigate this situation without losing their momentum 
. if the opposition thinks kilicdaroglu can take down erdogan, that's one thing, but what if he just ends up being a puppet for the hdp? 
. but at the same time, not having their own candidate might just be the smart move they need to stay alive 
... what do you guys think?
"The die has been cast" - William Shakespeare 
. The HDP's gamble could either make or break Erdogan's reign, and it's anyone's guess right now 
... if they dont wanna field thier own, it should be up to the ppl who want em in parliament not the ppl who wanna vote 4 Kemal lol. its kinda confusing how all this works out