Turkey’s HDP calls on 'opposition' parties to form protocol against Erdoğan

During an interview, HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli said that the protocol can be formed rapidly after June 25
Wednesday, 13 June 2018 22:58

The co-chair of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has called on the 'opposition' parties to form a protocol against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in presidential elections, as he called for “uniting for democracy.”

“A protocol is needed and it can be ensured rapidly. There is no need to suffocate in details. It’s either the Erdoğan regime or democracy,” HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli told Turkish daily Cumhuriyet on June 13, adding that “we believe we can unite for democracy.”

“We are calling on the opposition parties to determine the kind of democracy we want,” he noted.

Turkey is set to head to parliamentary and presidential polls on June 24 with two opposing alliances, the HDP and independent candidates of 'This Social Order Must Change Platform' contesting in the elections.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the ultra-nationalist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the ultra-nationalist Great Union Party (BBP) formed the “People’s Alliance” and the parliamentary main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the ultra-far İYİ (Good) Party, the Islamist Felicity Party (SP) and the right-wing Democrat Party (DP) formed the “Nation Alliance.”

There are six presidential candidates, with Erdoğan being the joint presidential candidate of the “People’s Alliance.” The other candidates are Muharrem İnce from the CHP, Meral Akşener from the İYİ Party, Temel Karamollaoğlu from the Felicity Party, Doğu Perinçek from the Homeland Party (VP) and Selahattin Demirtaş, who has been in prison since Nov. 4, 2016, from the HDP.

According to the electoral law, if the presidential elections move on to the second round, the country will once again head to polls on July 8.

During the interview, Temelli said that the protocol can be formed rapidly after June 25, adding that this suggestion is both in Demirtaş’s and the HDP’s call.

“I know that the other opposition parties are also carrying out efforts in this direction. There are efforts regarding equal citizenship. Everybody put forward a consensus regarding education in mother tongue. Collectiveness was put forward in the issues of equal citizenship and beliefs,” he also said.

Saying that a protocol with determined main titles can be brought to life quickly, Temelli noted that the cabinet may be shaped in accordance with this.

“The way that the parliament and the cabinet will work can be determined. We believe that this process can be completed between 18 and 30 months. Erdoğan inflicted severe damage to this country. There is an apparent wreckage and only we can clear it,” he also said.  

Turning to the issue of the 10 percent electoral threshold, which is often slammed due to being too high and unfair, Temelli said that this threshold is an obstacle that not only the HDP, but also the Turkish democracy faces.

 “We can pave the way for democracy in Turkey only through passing this threshold. Only then we can succeed altogether in ending the Erdoğan regime,” he added.