HDP officials are set to announce that as a precaution not to be left out of elections by a possible last-minute court ban, the party will compete under the Green Left’s name.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will likely compete in the coming elections under the name and emblem of sister party Green Left as HDP officials do not want to take any risk concerning a possible last-minute ban by Turkey’s Constitutional Court (AYM), +Gercek’s Seda Taskin reported on Tuesday.
HDP’s application for the postponement of the Constitutional Court’s decision in the closure case till after the elections was earlier rejected. The party is being accused of “providing space for the activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK),” designated a “terrorist group” by Ankara.
The deadline for the substitution of deputy candidate lists by political parties was set by the Supreme Election Council (YSK) as 9 April, two days before the HDP co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar will be heard in the court.
Flags and banners with the Green Left’s emblem will be made widely visible in the coming Newroz celebrations to make it more discernible for the Kurdish voters and other HDP supporters, Taskin said, adding that the central executive council of HDP will announce on Wednesday its final decision on how the party will compete in the elections.
HDP officials are worried that the court’s decision to ban the party might be issued days to the elections, which will also signify a political ban on hundreds of party officials, including parliamentary candidates in case they run in HDP lists.
Kilicdaroglu to visit HDP on Saturday
The joint opposition presidential candidate and leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Turkey, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, will visit the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, CHP officials announced.
Kilicdaroglu will be welcomed by HDP Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, and the meeting will take place at the HDP headquarters.
This visit comes after Mithat Sancar, the co-chair of the HDP, expressed that they could support Kilicdaroglu in the presidential election’s first round if they could reach an agreement based on principles.
The HDP, which accounts for 10-12% of the electoral vote, is widely seen as a kingmaker in presidential and parliamentary elections set for May 14, and the opposition bloc will likely need its support to end President Tayyip Erdogan’s two-decade political rule.
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