Turkey’s opposition fragments ahead of March local elections

[Anthea]

Erdogan re-election

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives 43% of the support of those polled when asked which presidential candidate they supported in the upcoming elections

An opinion poll conducted by Optimar, in Turkey, revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a clear advantage over his nearest opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as 43% of Turkish citizens would likely re-elect him in the upcoming elections, said.

From February 19 through February 23, about 2,000 people across Turkey's 26 provinces participated in the first poll undertaken since the devastating earthquake hit the country.

With Erdogan receiving 43.2% of the votes according to the poll, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the head of the Republican People's Party, would receive 13.5% of the vote, while Ankara's mayor, Mansur Yavas, would receive 11.8%.

Ekrem Imamoglu, the current mayor of Istanbul, according to the poll, received the support of 8.8% of the respondents.

When asked whether they believe the election will take place as usual or if it may be postponed, over 72% of respondents said they are confident the election will be conducted on time.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... e-election

[Anthea]

HDP in talks with candidate

The co-chair of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Mithat Sancar, on Monday said he expects a meeting to discuss the changes needed with the candidate put forward by the Nation Alliance to run against Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential elections

Six Turkish parties, consisting of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and smaller parties have formed the “Table of Six” group, now known as Nation Alliance, in a bid to defeat Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

In a televised interview with local media, Sancar welcomed the alliance’s move to nominate CHP Leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and called on him to visit the HDP for talks.

“We will be waiting for the candidate to meet us. We invite you to talk principles, not bargains. We want to talk about what needs to be done urgently. Our main agenda is the will of the society, which is a democratic change,” Sancar said.

Sancar noted that if any potential meetings are not satisfactory, the HDP may put forward its own candidate forward for the presidential bid.

“If we reach an agreement, we will support the candidate. On the contrary, the choice is obvious, we will have our own candidate,” he said.

Following the interview, Ozgur Ozel, a senior member of CHP, said a visit to the HDP was “probable.” He added that it is normal for a presidential candidate to pay a visit to all parties and inform them of his plans.

Kilicdaroglu said in a speech to the crowd late Monday after he was named candidate that the party’s agenda includes “peace and brotherhood.”

“We are the largest family. There should be blessed, serene, and joyful days in Turkey. God willing, we will achieve this together. We as the Nation Alliance will govern Turkey through counselling and compromise,” he said moments before his candidacy was officially announced.

The Nation alliance, of which Kilicdaroglu’s party is a member, has alsosigned a roadmap to change the current presidential system to a parliamentary one.

Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections are expected to take place on May 14th, when the alliance hopes to end the 21-year-long reign of Erdogan and the Justice and development party (AKP).

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/07032023

Sorry, but much as I would personally like to see Erdogan replaced, since the recent disastrous earthquakes, Erdogan is the only person with the experience and capability to improve living conditions reasonably quickly

[Anthea]

36 parties to run in elections

Signing a decision on Friday, Turkish President Erdogan said that the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections would be held on May 14

YSK announced the list of 36 political parties eligible to run in the presidential and parliamentary elections as follows:

Adalet Birlik Partisi (Justice and Unity Party)

Adalet Partisi (Justice Party)

Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice and Development Party)

Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party)

Bağımsız Türkiye Partisi (Independent Turkey Party)

Büyük Birlik Partisi (Great Unity Party)

Büyük Türkiye Partisi (Great Turkey Party)

Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Republican People’s Party)

Demokrasi ve Atılım Partisi (Democracy and Progress Party)

Demokratik Sol Parti (Democratic Left Party)

Demokrat Parti (Democrat Party)

Emek Partisi (Labour Party)

Gelecek Partisi (Future Party)

Genç Parti (Young Party)

Güç Birliği Partisi (Power Union Party)

Hak ve Özgürlükler Partisi (Rights and Freedoms Party)

Halkın Kurtuluş Partisi (People’s Liberation Party)

Halkların Demokratik Partisi (Peoples’ Democratic Party)

Hür Dava Partisi (Free Cause Party)

İYİ Parti (Good Party)

Memleket Partisi (Homeland Party)

Millet Partisi (Nation Party)

Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi (Nationalist Movement Party)

Milli Yol Partisi (National Path Party)

Saadet Partisi (Felicity Party)

Sol Parti (Left Party)

Türkiye Değişim Partisi (Party for a Change in Turkey)

Türkiye İşçi Partisi (Workers’ Party of Turkey)

Türkiye Komünist Hareketi (Communist Movement of Turkey)

Türkiye Komünist Partisi Communist Party of Turkey)

Vatan Partisi (Patriotic Party)

Yeniden Refah Partisi (New Welfare Party)

Yenilik Partisi (Innovation Party)

Yeni Türkiye Partisi (New Turkey Party)

Yeşiller ve Sol Gelecek Partisi (Greens and Left Future Party)

Zafer Partisi (Victory Party)

If the president is not elected in the first round, the second round will take place on May 28.

Erdogan is seeking another term in office in the election. According to the constitution, however, he would not be allowed to run for the presidency again. Section 101 of the Turkish constitution sets a maximum limit of two terms for the president. Because Erdogan was already elected president in 2014 and confirmed in office in 2018, the opposition parties argue that this is the end for the AKP politician.

Erdogan rejects the objections. He argues that with the new constitution of 2018, the count starts all over again, and that nothing constitutionally stands in the way of his running for another five-year term. Erdogan was prime minister from 2003 before becoming president in 2014. In 2017, he introduced a presidential system by constitutional referendum and established a one-man regime.

According to polls, Erdogan must fear for his re-election this time. The autocratic long-term ruler has been criticised for the lack of a crisis management plan after the devastating earthquakes on February 6, which left tens of thousands dead and thousands injured.

36 political parties all think that they are capable to running the country - a vote for any of these parties apart from CHP, is a vote for Erdogan

[Anthea]

What can Kilicdaroglu offer Kurds?

Nearly a century ago, the Turkish army murdered tens of thousands of Kurds in Dersim (Tunceli) province. The memory of Dersim lives large for Kurdish rebels who for about five decades have fought a bloody war with the modern Turkish state founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk that oppressed its Kurdish population through massacres, and political and cultural bans

Now from this same province, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a politician from Ataturk’s own party has emerged as a hope for a first step towards resolving Turkey’s Kurdish problem.

As Turkey approaches its 100th anniversary, political parties are preparing for elections that are considered the most contested in decades.

When Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) won its first election in 2002, Kurds hoped this could be an end of state oppression against them. The AKP did make remarkable reforms in favour of Kurds who have made up a huge portion of the party’s supporters.

Erdogan brought in measures that were previously seen as taboo, such as optional Kurdish courses in schools and launching a 24-hour Kurdish broadcaster, TRT Kurdi. He even reached an unprecedented ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in 2013, though it lasted just about two years.

After 2015, however, Erdogan began reversing most of these developments. The government started cracking down on the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), banned the Kurdish language in official settings, further limited Kurdish education, closed Kurdish newspapers, dramatically increased military operations against the PKK and Syrian Kurds, and jailed thousands of HDP members, officials and supporters, as well as journalists.

Erdogan has an uphill battle ahead of the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections. Economic woes and the devastating February 6 earthquakes have eroded his popular support.

With speculation that Erdogan’s two-decade rule is coming to an end, Kurds hope they will see some relief from state oppression under Kilicdaroglu. Many people claim that Kilicdaroglu is of Kurdish origin, though he has never publicly commented on his roots.

The 74-year-old politician on Monday was named by the largest opposition alliance as their candidate to run against Erdogan. He has said that he can resolve the Kurdish question in Turkey and will release scores of Kurdish political prisoners if he ascends to power.

The Nation Alliance, which consists of six parties, including Kilicdaroglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), have a 12-point roadmap, outlining how they will restore the parliamentary system and end Erdogan’s one-man rule. Their official platform, however, makes no mention of the Kurdish question.

Who is Kilicdaroglu?

Kilicdaroglu was born on December 17, 1948, the fourth of seven children of Kamer and Yemus, in Dersim’s Nazimiye district. A young man with an economic background, he served in many positions in several provinces before retiring from a social insurance institution in the late nineties and entering politics in the early 2000s.

He won a seat in the parliament in the 2002 general election on the CHP ticket. The same vote brought Erdogan and his AKP to power. In 2007, he retained his seat in the legislature. When CHP leader Deniz Baykal resigned in 2010 due to a scandal, Kilicdaroglu replaced him.

Before Kilicdaroglu took over the party, CHP had not courted Kurdish voters. The party sees itself as the guardian of Ataturk’s ideological legacy and militant brand of Turkish nationalism. Kilicdaroglu, however, has broken with party tradition and made numerous visits to Kurdish provinces in the southeast part of the country (known to Kurds as Northern Kurdistan).

One year ago, he visited Kurdish folk singers (Dengbej) in Diyarbakir (Amed) city and spent time with the Kurdish community. Kilicdaroglu has amicable ties with the HDP, even calling for the release of the party’s former co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, who has been in jail since 2016 on terror-related charges.

Kilicdaroglu has transformed the party, according to Emre Uslu, a US-based Turkish academic who covers Turkish politics and the Kurdish question. “He realized that the old codes of Kemalism were dead in the eyes of the majority. Thus he reinvented the CHP as a Pro-West, post-Kemalist, inclusive political party that acknowledges the indigenous cultures and social structures,” he told Rudaw English.

When it comes to the PKK, however, Kilicdaroglu’s views align with those of the nationalist parties and Erdogan. PKK is an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. It has been listed as a terrorist group by Ankara.

What can Kilicdaroglu offer Kurds?

Yavuz Degirmenci is a co-founder and senior member of the Future Party, which is part of the Nation Alliance with CHP. He told Rudaw English that their aim is to build a “pluralistic and inclusive political order based on human rights and the principle of equality.”

They have also promised to “end anti-democratic practices such as appointing trustees to municipalities by the central government,” he added, referring to the removal of several HDP mayors by the state in 2019 because of alleged terror links.

There is an ongoing legal attempt to close HDP. The next hearing at the Constitutional Court is taking place on April 11. Degirmenci said that if they win in the elections, the alliance will “reorganize” the foundation of the court in order to keep free of political pressure.

They will also make it impossible to shut down opposition parties through unilateral decisions. “According to our proposal, the permission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will be obligatory in the filing of lawsuits regarding the closure of political parties,” he said, referring to the parliament.

“Finally, I would like to emphasize that, as a result of comprehensive political and legal reforms and mindset change that we will carry out, a democratic climate will be created for the solution of the Kurdish Question,” he said.

Neither CHP nor Kilicdaroglu have commented on the Kurdish question and what they can offer Kurds since his candidacy was announced. Kilicdaroglu has, however, said that he would “definitely” visit the HDP to discuss the election. “There is nothing more natural than my visit to HDP,” he stressed.

Kilicdaroglu may be hampered in courting Kurdish voters by the membership of the nationalist IYI Party in his alliance. The party’s leader Meral Aksener initially rejected Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy and has warned repeatedly that they would never allow the pro-Kurdish party to join the Nation Alliance, though she has given a green light to a possible meeting between the CHP leader and the HDP.

Degirmenci said he does not expect the HDP to join the alliance because it has already formed a separate coalition with leftist parties and the Nation’s Alliance “has a balance and working principle within itself.”

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan congratulated Kilicdaroglu on his nomination and said they would “reevaluate” their previous decision to field a presidential candidate.

Ebru Gunay, HDP spokesperson, told Rudaw English that Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy is “the most positive outcome of the Nation Alliance according to the current conditions.”

“However, our statement does not mean that HDP will unconditionally support this candidate. HDP is not a charitable institution or a support institution for other parties. It has great popular support, a decisive policy, and a strong will. HDP has demands. If these demands and the existence of HDP are not taken into consideration, we will look our way,” she warned.

The decades-old war between Ankara and the PKK, the ongoing case to close the HDP, crackdowns on Kurdish politicians, activists and journalists, and the ban on the Kurdish language and culture are key issues for Turkey’s Kurds that make up 15 to 20 percent of the population.

Gunay said they have conditions in return for supporting Kilicdaroglu.

“Since the beginning, we have not discussed names but principles. For us, principles are more important than names. In this process of the change of the century, will the existence of the Kurdish people be accepted? Will the rights and freedom of the society be recognized or not? We do not oppose anyone or any name without a reason. We also do not support any name without a reason,” she said.

She also said that society wants change, democracy, equality and freedom.

“Turkey is tired of the AKP and MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] rule and fascism. This fascist perception became a storm that fell on society. This mentality is hostile to Kurds, women, Alawites and the whole society. The important thing is that we defeat this mentality,” she said.

Emre Uslu, the analyst, said that Kilicdaroglu is “the most capable leader and strategist that can glue secularist ‘white Turks’ to the conservative Kurds,” using a term that refers to Turks who have embraced modernization and live in urban areas.

“Moreover, Mr. Kilicdaroglu comes from a Kurdish Alevi minority community. If elected, for the first time in Turkish history, we will have an Alevi Kurdish leader who would have a chance to heal old historical wounds in these oppressed minority communities,” added the academic.

When disastrous quakes hit several provinces in Turkey last month, the PKK announced a ceasefire. Uslu believes that this initiative “opens a new door” for the group and Ankara to end the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people since the early eighties.

“When Mr. Erdogan tried to start peace negotiations with the PKK back in 2012, the Kemalists were bitter opponents of the peace negotiations. If the Nation Alliance wins with the support of Kurdish nationalists, it would be a golden opportunity for the majority of the Turkish community to resume peace negotiations," he said.

“It is a golden opportunity for the Kurds to support the Nation Alliance to win the hearts and minds of the Kemalist segments of society. Without the Kemalists' support, it is almost impossible to end the forty-year conflict. Moreover, Kurds have been under immense pressure from the Turkish government in recent years, so it is unlikely that they would support the government anyway. More importantly, they won't need bullets when the Kurds can beat the most powerful government via ballets,” he added.

Kingmaker

HDP, which is expected to play the role of kingmaker in the May vote, supported the CHP in Istanbul and Ankara during the 2019 local elections when they made the decision not to field candidates in those locations. The CHP beat the AKP in both cities, marking the first great victory of the main opposition parties against their long-time rival in decades.

Months later, the government cracked down on the HDP’s mayors, removing many on the basis of alleged terror charges, a move that many considered revenge for the party’s support for the CHP.

The HDP appears to be sticking to its 2019 election strategy as it has not yet announced a presidential candidate. Demirtas, who ran against Erdogan in the previous presidential election, announced from jail that he is not running this time due to the legal case against him.

Gunay said that her party has “many” members who could be potential candidates, “but we are currently studying new conditions.”

She also acknowledged her party’s kingmaker role.

“Without the HDP and without the Kurds, no one can bring about change,” she said. “All political parties in Turkey know this fact and have seen this fact before.”

The HDP’s support will be especially key if the presidential vote goes to a runoff.

Erdogan on Friday officially set the parliamentary and presidential elections for May 14.

The two main alliances - the People's Alliance between AKP and the far-right MHP as well as the Nation Alliance - have begun efforts to gain the support of smaller parties.

“We are the largest family,” Kilicdaroglu said minutes before his candidacy was announced. “There should be fruitful, nice and happy days in Turkey. God willing, we will achieve this together. We as the Nation Alliance will govern Turkey through consultation and compromise.”

Time and the ballot box will determine the success of these alliances and the future of the HDP and the Kurds.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /110320231

Kilicdaroglu, like other political leaders, must NOT be judged by recent words but by his history and the history of his party

[Anthea]

Erdogan courts Kurdish party

Ahead of May 14 elections where he will face the greatest challenge to his rule, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling alliance are courting small conservative parties, including the Kurdish Huda Par

The spokesperson of the Diyarbakir-based Huda Par (Free Cause Party), Serkan Ramanli, on Saturday said Erdogan’s party approached them a few months ago about joining the People Alliance for the May presidential and parliamentary elections. Talks stalled after the February 6 earthquakes but picked up again in the past week.

“There isn't any disagreement. We have a meeting at the party presidency tomorrow. After doing our assessments with our presidents, we will declare our decision to the public,” Ramanli told A Haber TV, which is close to Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Ramanli said his party will not field a presidential candidate. In 2018 they backed Erdogan’s candidacy.

Late on Friday night, the New Welfare party (Yeniden Refah) announced they had joined Erdogan’s People Alliance. The party is led by Fatih Erbakan, the son of Necmettin Erbakan, a prime minister of Turkey in the late 1990s and someone Erdogan considers a mentor.

Both Huda Par and Yeniden Refah are religiously conservative parties with small electoral bases. Huda Par, unofficially known as Hezbollah’s Turkish wing, was established in 2012 a decade after Hezbollah ended armed activities in Turkey.

The party was created to challenge the hegemony of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy party (BDP), the predecessor of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in the southeast of Turkey. The party advocates for Kurdish rights within the state of Turkey.

Erdogan announced on Friday that elections will be held on May 14, a month earlier than originally scheduled. He will face the toughest challenge to his two-decade rule as an opposition alliance has vowed to end his reign.

Six parties from the opposition have formed the Nation Alliance, also known as the Table of Six. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is their candidate to run against Erdogan for the presidency.

The Nation Alliance announced a 12-point roadmap of their plan if they come into power. Restoring a parliamentary system instead of the one-man rule of the executive presidency is key to their platform.

The pro-Kurdish, left-leaning HDP has not joined any alliance, but they have shown their willingness to cooperate with the CHP, inviting Kilicdaroglu to their headquarters to discuss the vote. Kilicdaroglu has accepted their invitation.

HDP was the third largest bloc in the Turkish parliament after the 2018 elections and are considered by many to be the kingmaker in this vote.

Last month’s devastating earthquakes as well as economic woes caused by the devaluation of the Turkish lira and inflation are expected to negatively impact Erdogan’s performance in the elections despite promises to compensate victims of the earthquakes that took the lives of some 48,000 people in the country.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/11032023

[Anthea]

Opposition leads Erdogan by 10 points

Erdogan is facing the biggest challenge to his 20-year rule due to economic issues and the high cost of living.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the Turkish opposition's presidential candidate, is leading against President Tayyip Erdogan by more than 10 percentage points ahead of the elections on May 14, new polls showed.

The Nation Alliance, the opposition bloc, is leading the parliamentary race by at least six points ahead of Erdogan's party and its allies.

Other than that, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) remains comfortably above 10%.

Erdogan is facing the biggest challenge to his 20-year rule due to economic issues and the high cost of living, not to mention that victims of the earthquake are reconsidering where their loyalties lie after the disaster struck.

The elections will not only decide who will lead Turkey, but they will also decide which direction Turkey's economy will take.

Political risk advisory co-president at Teneo, Wolfango Piccoli, emphasized the importance of presenting a unified front for voters to help them keep up with their momentum as they head to the ballots.

"Simply blaming Erdogan for everything that is wrong in Turkey won't cut it. Past elections have shown that Erdogan is a phenomenal campaigner, but recent remarks suggest he has lost his popular touch and his ability to connect with voters," he said.

Poll results

A poll conducted on March 8, published by Aksoy Research on Saturday, showed the opposition alliance candidate, Kilicdaroglu, is leading against Erdogan with 55.6%.

The poll also showed that the main opposition bloc gathered just above 44%. The AKP and allies together earned 38.2%.

With the main opposition acquiring 43.5% of the votes, HDP got 11.3%.

ARC Research showed Erdogan lagging behind Kilicdaroglu as the current President acquired 43.2% according to a poll conducted on March 4-6, prior to having Kilicdaroglu announced as the opposition candidate.

Merve Tahiroglu, Turkey program director at the Washington-based Project on Middle East Democracy, called the alliance "diverse" and could appeal to a different segment of Turkey.

"In this specific moment we have more reason to be optimistic about Turkey's election delivering an opposition win than we have ever been in the last 20 years," she said.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... oints:-pol

[Anthea]

Labor and Freedom Alliance coalition

The Labor and Freedom Alliance published its final declaration after a meeting on Thursday

The statement said: "The components of the Labor and Freedom Alliance are the Labor Movement Party (EHP), the Labor Party (EMEP), the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Socialist Assemblies Federation (SMF), the Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP) and the Social Freedom Party (TOP). As co-chairs, presidents and spokespersons, we met in Ankara to discuss the topics on the agenda, including earthquake and flood disasters, deepening crises, presidential and parliamentary elections.

The government's anti-people policies based on corruption and plunder threaten the present and future of society by causing crises. The destruction, loss of life and property in the Maraş Pazarcık-centered earthquakes of 6 February and the floods in the Urfa and Adıyaman on 15 March were the most obvious and tragic indicators of these policies.

We totally reject the evaluation of the disaster as a "natural disaster or destiny plan". As the Labor and Freedom Alliance, we are committed to changing this government that is hostile to the people and nature and the order that paved the way for disasters, to hold those responsible accountable and to build a new life worthy of human dignity.”

The statement continued: “We are on the eve of an election that will change Turkey. With the awareness of our historical and political responsibility that will turn the expectations of society into hope and build a democratic and free future, we say that:

-A will has emerged to expand the process that we started as a struggle alliance into an electoral alliance. We have therefore decided to enter the election as the Labor and Freedom Alliance. Technical work will be based on the ways and methods that will protect and develop the gains of all the powers that are components of the alliance, especially the HDP.

-We had a wide-ranging discussion about the presidential election. After the earthquake, we decided to re-evaluate the presidential candidate selection process. We have decided to share our common stance, which emerged as a result of the discussion we had on Thursday, with the public at a press conference to be held in a very near future.

- In an atmosphere where political bans and lawsuits, violence and oppression continue to increase, we continue our joint efforts with all segments of society to guarantee a safe election process and ballot box security.

We will fill the squares on Newroz and 1 May with the strength we derive from the struggle of the women who turned the streets purple on 8 March. Together with all the forces of democracy, we will win. We will end the one-man regime.”

[Anthea]

HDP won't field candidate

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s pro-Kurdish political party and its allies said Wednesday that they won't field a candidate to run in the country's May 14 presidential election, a move that could boost an opposition bloc's chances of unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

With Turkey entangled in economic turmoil and in the midst of a difficult recovery from a devastating earthquake last month, Erdogan is facing the toughest re-election bid of his two-decade rule as prime minister and as president.

A six-party opposition coalition known as the Nation Alliance has united behind the candidacy of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the secularist Republican People’s Party. The coalition has vowed to dismantle a presidential system that has concentrated a vast amount of powers in Erdogan’s hands. Critics say the system amounts to a “one-man rule” without checks and balances.

In announcing that the Peoples’ Democratic Party, or HDP, would not put up its own candidate for the presidency, co-chairperson Pervin Buldan did not express outright support for Kilicdaroglu, but the decision was widely seen as the party's tacit backing of the anti-Erdogan bloc.

The HDP is the second largest opposition party in Turkey's parliament and commands some 10% of the vote, so its support is crucial for the opposition’s bid to defeat Erdogan. In 2019, HDP’s support helped Kilicdaroglu’s party win the municipalities of Ankara and Istanbul in 2019 local elections.

However, the party was excluded from the Nation Alliance, which includes Islamists and nationalists as well as Kilicdaroglu’s center-left party. HDP instead formed an alliance with a group of left-wing parties.

“We are determined to hold the government and those responsible for the great destruction ... accountable,” Buldan said. “For these reasons, we are declaring to the public that we will not nominate a candidate in the presidential elections.”

The government has accused HDP of colluding with the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. Dozens of elected HDP lawmakers and mayors, including former party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, and thousands of party members have been arrested on terror-related accusations.

Critics say the actions are part of a crackdown on the party, which faces closure.

Meanwhile, Erdogan suffered a setback this week after a small Islamist party refused to join his ruling party’s alliance with two nationalist parties and announced it would field its own presidential candidate.

In another upset, respected former economy minister Mehmet Simsek reportedly rejected an offer to return to the post.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/30 ... -candidate

Politically, there are only 2 choices in Turkey:

Kemal Kilicdaroglu's secular Kurdish Murdering Kemalist party
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic Kurdish Murdering AK Parti

Has anyone worked out which party killed the most Kurds?

[Anthea]

Click Image to Enlarge:

Combative spoiler enters election

Turkey's top politicians have formed two camps heading into May's election: those who revere President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and those united in the single goal of ending his two-decade rule

Then Muharrem Ince came along

The Turkish leader's chief rival in the last election in 2018 all but vanished after picking up 30.6 percent of the vote.

Erdogan's 52.6 percent allowed him to extend a run that has seen his Islamic-rooted party become Turkey's most transformative force since the secular state's creation by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 100 years ago.

A lot has happened since Ince's defeat.

Six disparate parties have built an anti-Erdogan alliance and -- after a year-long debate -- rallied around the candidacy of secular CHP party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the May 14 vote.

A major pro-Kurdish party has also given Kilicdaroglu its tacit support.

The opposition alliance is the most multi-faceted and seemingly popular of any Erdogan has faced at the ballot box.

This makes Ince's decision to run again particularly frustrating for Erdogan's political foes.

"This is bad news for the opposition," Sabanci University political science assistant professor Berk Esen told AFP.

"Ince's ability to draw votes from the CHP and (its junior partner) the Iyi Party could have a spoiler effect and force the presidential election to a second round."

'I will be elected'

Ince (pronounced Indzhe) represented the CHP in the last election because the party felt the more mild-mannered Kilicdaroglu had less public appeal.

His passionate speeches and combative persona mimicked Erdogan's own campaign style and drew huge crowds in the last campaign.

Hopes were high -- and the disappointment deep.

Ince's defeat was followed by an hours-long silence that he broke by sending a curt text message to a reporter saying simply: "the man won".

The brusque remark created national headlines and contributed to a loss of Ince's popularity in the polls.

But Ince remained undeterred.

He immediately tried and failed to challenge Kilicdaroglu for the CHP leadership and then went on a national bus tour to drum up support for his own political brand.

Ince's new Memleket (Homeland) Party resonates most with secular nationalist voters who comprise an important part of Kilicdaroglu's current base of support.

The 58-year-old native of a small village near Istanbul sounded characteristically confident after submitting his candidacy to the Higher Election Board this week.

"The election will go to the second round, and in the second round I will be elected president with more than 60 percent of the vote," he said.

'What does he represent?'

Ince's last-minute entry into a race that was shaping into the opposition's best chance yet to defeat Erdogan has ruffled feathers across the political spectrum.

Analyst Serkan Demirtas said Ince was trying to present himself as an alternative without truly defining what he stood for.

"He says he's against Erdogan, and he's also against Kilicdaroglu, but what does he represent? We don't know,".

Most agree that anyone trying to single-handedly defeat Erdogan will not only fail but also hurt the opposition alliance.

"Ince is unlikely to steal from the ruling party's votes," well-connected political journalist Deniz Zeyrek remarked.

"Who would that serve most? Erdogan."

Eurasia Group analyst Emre Peker said Ince's ability to draw votes away from Kilicdaroglu will make his position crucial in the likely runoff on May 28.

"Whether he and the CHP bury the hatchet... will be key to Kilicdaroglu's prospects in the second round," Peker wrote in a note.

Gen Z voters

Analysts believe Ince mostly appeals to younger voters who are tired of Erdogan and uninspired by the 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu -- a former civil servant who calls himself the "quiet force".

"He seems to be especially popular with Gen Z voters who can be easily swayed by anti-status quo candidates," Sabanci University's Esen said.

"For them, Kilicdaroglu is not a fresh face."

Erdogan's opponents are still quietly trying to force Ince to pull out of the race.

"Withdraw as soon as possible... Your candidacy will not bring you any success," popular Turkish tenor and columnist Guvenc Dagustun wrote in the left-leaning BirGun newspaper.

Zeyrek felt Ince could still change his mind at the last moment and end his campaign.

"I think the CHP should be talking to him," the political journalist said.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/31 ... n-campaign

[Anthea]

Several Kurdish officials arrested in Turkey

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Dozens of Kurdish officials of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) were arrested on Monday in the Suruc district of Urfa, Turkey

The Suruc District Prosecutor's Office ordered the arrest of the officials on the claims of membership of a ‘terrorist organization’, a reference to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government.

The HDP has always maintained that it has no connection with the PKK and is committed to peaceful politics. However, the Turkish government's accusations continue to raise concerns about the state of democracy and freedom of expression in Turkey.

The Turkish government has regularly targeted the HDP in Turkey, accusing them of supporting the PKK and thereby posing a threat to national security. Such accusations have led to the arrests of several HDP members and leaders.

The HDP has faced these accusations before, with many of its senior members, including its former co-chairs, being arrested and imprisoned in the past.

The arrests of an estimated 25 Kurdish officials is seen as a further move towards suppressing the voice of the Kurdish population in Turkey ahead of the Turkish elections that will take place on May 24, 2023.

The Kurds in Turkey are expected to play a kingmaker role in the election of the future Turkish president, with both the opposition and the Turkish ruling parties trying to attract the Kurdish vote.

The arrests of political officials and supporters have also raised concerns about the limitations on political expression and the suppression of civil liberties in Turkey.

The accusations against the HDP officials continue to be a matter of political dispute and have sparked debate about the role of the Kurdish population in Turkish society.

The charges of collusion with the PKK against the HDP officials are seen by observers as a part of the ongoing crackdown on the party and its supporters by the Turkish government over the last few years

Furthermore, amidst the possibility that the HDP will be banned by Turkey’s top court, the HDP has recently announced it would contest the vote under the allied Green Left party’s ticket.

Moreover, the HDP said it would not field a candidate for president, a sign of tacit support to the Turkish joint opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Kemalist Republican People’s Party (CHP).

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/31 ... -elections

[Anthea]

Four Run In Presidential Elections

The Türkish Supreme Electoral Council announced on Monday that four candidates will be eligible to participate in the May 14 presidential election

The collection of signatures of presidential candidates proposed by non-parliamentary parties closed on March 27. Only two politicians (Muharrem Ince and Sinan Ogan) have managed to collect the required 100 000 signatures to be a candidate for parties that do not have a group in Parliament.

Therefore, four candidates have been allowed in the upcoming presidential election, "Kemal Kilicdaroglu (opposition National Alliance bloc), Muharrem Ince (Fatherland Party), Recep Tayyip Erdogan (ruling People's Alliance), and Sinan Ogan (far-right ATA Alliance)," said YSK Chairman Ahmet Yener.

İnce received 114 657 voter signatures, while Sinan Oğan received 111 502.

The final list of candidates will be announced on Friday, and the official election campaign will begin on the same day, according to the YSK chairman.

The candidacies of MP Kemal Kilicdaroglu and incumbent President Erdogan were not required to collect signatures to participate in the elections.

Türkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on May 14, and Kilicdaroglu is expected to be Erdogan's main opponent.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Tur ... -0017.html

[Anthea]

Erdogan eligible for candidacy

Bozdag described Erdogan’s candidacy as “his constitutional right,” saying that there are no legal or constitutional obstacles preventing him from practicing this right

“Following the change in the governing system, our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was elected president on June 24, 2018, for the first time with the title of President as the executive body whose executive power belongs exclusively to him. For this reason, it is his second candidacy and constitutional right to run for presidency again in the May 14, 2023, presidential election,” read a statement from the minister.

On Tuesday, opposition parties Homeland (Memleket) and Turkey’s Workers’ Party (TIP) appealed to the country’s higher council of elections against Erdogan’s candidacy, arguing that the president cannot run for a third term.

The Turkish constitution states that an individual can be elected for a maximum of two terms of presidency; nevertheless Erdogan will be running for a third term in May, after being elected president in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.

Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) argues that Erdogan is eligible for a third run claiming that the Article in the constitution does not specifically apply in this situation.

“Legally there is no issue. Article 101, which grants the rights of two presidential terms, was issued on April 30, 2018. This will be our second election since that date,” said Mustafa Sentop, Turkey’s parliament speaker and a member of the AKP.

On the other hand, Erdogan announced on Wednesday that his current cabinet ministers will run for the parliament, in a measurement to avoid the repetition of the same ministers from his two previous terms, adding that the upcoming cabinet will include new names if he were to win in May.

The Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place on May 14,, a month prior to its originally scheduled date of June 18.

In 2017, Turkey conducted a referendum on whether to approve 18 proposals of amendments to the Turkish constitution including changing the country’s system from parliamentary to presidential.

Erdogan is set to be challenged for presidency by leader of the Repbuclian People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Memleket leader Muharrem Ince, and Sinan Ogan, candidate of the ultranationalist Ancestral Alliance (ATA).

Kilicdaroglu, viewed as the strongest opponent, takes on Erdogan at a time when the president’s popularity is at its lowest, according to the poll centers.

Kilicdaroglu, and his allies at the Nation Alliance, have vowed to abolish the presidency system and restore the parliamentary system if they were to emerge victorious from the elections.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/29032023

[Anthea]

Click Photo to Enlarge:


Diyarbakir building caretaker

A building caretaker from Diyarbakir (Amed) is on the preliminary list of candidates of an opposition party in the Turkish parliament, seeking to break the barriers and create more opportunities for people of his profession

Abdulrezak Memis submitted his application to become a member of the 28th term of the Turkish Parliament on the Green Left Party and is now expecting approval from the party members to officially run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“Manufacturers become MPs, rich people become MPs, and professors become MPs, why can we building caretakers not become MPs?” Memis told Rudaw’s Mashallah Dakak last week, indicating that he believed laborers should also have the opportunity to enter parliament.

Memis used his job as an opportunity to get to know people and expand his network, using it as a method of spreading his election plans. He believes he stands a good chance of becoming an MP and that he could add a new color to politics and parliament itself.

In order for Memis to become an MP, he needs to chosen by the party members during an intra-party vote, the date of which is unknown. The party is expected to announce its final list of candidates on April 19. If selected, the people of the city will then get a chance to vote.

The Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place on May 14, a month prior to its originally scheduled date of June 18.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will enter the upcoming general elections in Turkey through the Green Left Party, in order to dodge the possibility of dissolution, as a party closure case is ongoing against them with the next hearing set for April 11.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/02042023

[Anthea]

26 parties in parliamentary elections

Turkey’s supreme election council announced on Sunday that 26 different parties will participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Turkey, with the final list set to be announced following a two-day evaluation of the candidates

“Among 36 parties eligible to enter elections, 26 of them have submitted the list of their candidates to the Supreme Election Council,” Ahmet Yener, head of the council, told journalists in a presser on Sunday.

The council is set to run a two-day evaluation period for the candidates presented by the parties, and will inform them in case of any legal issue to be fixed within a 48-hour period, according to Yener.

According to data from the elections council, over 64 million people are registered to vote in the upcoming elections, electing the country’s president and parliament members for the next five years.

The Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections are set to be held on May 14, a month earlier than its originally scheduled date of June 18.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to face his toughest challenge yet in the form of longtime rival and leader of the People’s Republican Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and allies in the Nation Alliance who have vowed to unseat him and his party after 21 years in control.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), who will enter the elections as Green Left Party (Yesil Sol), is viewed as the kingmakers of the presidential elections, as they showed an implicit support for Kilicdaroglu by not presenting a candidate for the presidential elections.

Kilicdaroglu, seen as the strongest opponent, takes on Erdogan at a time when the president’s popularity is at its lowest, according to the poll centers.

Kilicdaroglu and his allies promised to abolish the presidency system, which won the referendum poll with marginal difference in 2017, and restore the parliamentary system to Turkey if they emerge victorious from the elections.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/10042023

[Anthea]

Everything about Turkish elections

Turkey will hold what is widely considered the most consequential election in recent history on 14 May

From a faltering economy to migration policies, the issues at stake have been exacerbated by the recent earthquake which killed 50,000 and devastated towns and cities across the south and southwest of the country.

Voters will decide whether to keep the current government headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan -- who has ruled for more than two decades -- or opt instead for a change of leadership in Ankara.

Here's everything you need to know about Turkish politics, parties,
personalities and hot topics as the country gets ready to head to the polls.

The election timetable

There will be two elections held on 14 May where voters will choose their new president, and also 600 members of parliament.

For the presidential elections, if no candidate can secure at least 50% of the votes, a second run-off will be held on 28 May between the top two runners.

Around 61 million voters will head to the ballot box on election day and it is estimated that 3 million voters abroad will likely cast their votes in advance, between 27 April and 9 May.

The voting on 14 May will begin at 08:00, with polls closing at 17:00 local time.

All politicians and parties must conclude their campaigns at 18:00 the day before, then pre-election restrictions begin.

The initial results are expected to be known by 23:59 on election day. At midnight the electoral prohibitions end and the broadcasters will begin to announce unofficial initial results.

Traditionally, the winner of the race for the presidency will declare victory in the early hours of the morning, when the majority of the ballots have been counted.

The president-elect will address the public with a victory speech. However, the announcement of the definite results by the Supreme Election Council can take a few days or even a week.

The presidency and parliamentary elections are run on the same day every five years.

Who is running for the presidency?

On 14 May, the voter will be handed a ballot paper with four candidates, who all succeeded in securing the 100,000 signatures required for candidacy.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: the current president will be facing his toughest test during his 20-year rule. Founder and the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Erdoğan has been leading the country since he became prime minister in 2002.

Appointed as president by parliament in 2014, his powers were only symbolic in theory, although critics would argue that he had already established a de-facto presidential system since coming into office.

The referendum in 2017 paved the way for the presidential system and in 2018, all the powers of the government were handed over to the elected president, Erdoğan, as the parliamentary government was abolished.

The 69-year-old president is criticised for monopolising power and silencing dissenting voices as well as shifting Turkey away from Ataturk's secular blueprint, which sidelined Islam.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğluhas been the country's main opposition leader for 13 years and is widely believed to have a high chance of winning the race for the first time.

The leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Kılıçdaroğlu is the candidate of the Nation Alliance, also known as the 'Table of Six'.

Following a series of major defeats against Erdoğan and AKP, the retaking of power in stronghold municipalities at the local elections in 2019 by CHP was the first signal of Erdoğan's loss of support.

The country's worsening economic situation appears to be strengthening Kılıçdaroğlu's hand.

Some call the 74-year-old retired civil servant a Turkish 'Ghandi', others criticise him for lacking political charisma and for obstructing politicians from his own party who are seen as having a high chance of winning the election.

Muharrem Ince, the leader of the right-wing, nationalist Homeland Party, knows the presidential race all too well. He will be running against Erdoğan for the second time following the last presidential elections in 2018.

İnce was a member of the CHP and the candidate of the main opposition at the time. However, his disappearance on the election night was perceived as a betrayal and his 'off the record' Whatsapp message, “the man won”, accepting the defeat was the last straw that broke the camel's back for his supporters.

He formed Homeland Party (MP) following his resignation from CHP in 2021.

Despite calls for withdrawal from the opposition wing, İnce is confident that he will make it to the second round. The 58-year-old candidate is criticised for splitting the votes and playing into Erdoğan's hands.

Sinan Oğan, nominated by the Ancestral Alliance, was a member of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

He was dismissed from the party in 2017 for the second time, following his return after winning the lawsuit against his expulsion in 2015.

Now an independent politician, the 55-year-old is less well-known among the public than the other candidates. Oğan served as a member of parliament between 2011 and 2015.

Parties

Perhaps the most complicated part of the race is the parliamentary elections. Here voters will have a long ballot paper with a list of 32 political parties.

Turkey is divided into 87 multi-member constituencies which elect a certain number of representatives depending on the size of the population of each constituency.

In total, 600 MPs are elected.

The complication doesn't end here.

Some cities are traditional strongholds of a particular party regardless of who the candidates are. So, to increase the chance of winning a seat, some parties include candidates from other parties in their electoral lists.

For a party to be represented in parliament, it must exceed the threshold of 7%.

Any party unable to obtain enough votes can still join the parliament if it is a member of an alliance that reaches the 7% threshold.
Alliances

People's Alliance is currently formed of four parties: the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Great Unity Party (BBP) and New Welfare Party (YRP).

The main opposition bloc's Nation Alliance, on the other hand, is made up of six parties: Republican People's Party (CHP), Good Party (İYİ), Felicity Party (SP), Future Party (GP), Democrat Party (DP) and Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA).

CHP/Anadolu Ajansı

Leaders of six parties of the Nation Alliance - CHP/Anadolu Ajansı

Labour and Freedom Alliance is in theory formed of two parties Green Left Party (YSP) and Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP). However, the party list of YSP consists of candidates from four different parties.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) which came third in the last elections and currently facing a possible closure, will be participating under Green Left Party (YSP).

Union of Socialist Forces brings together Left Party (SOL), Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and the Communist Movement of Turkey (TKH).

Victory Party (ZP) and Justice Party (AP) runs in the election under the Ancestral Alliance.

Once all the votes have been counted, the D’Hondt method will be used to determine the new MPs. The method aims to allocate seats to parties approximately in proportion to the number of votes received.

The votes cast abroad will be added proportionally to the votes received by the parties across the country.

What are they promising?

Unless there is a big surprise, it is almost certain that either Erdoğan or Kiılıçdaroğlu will reside at the presidential palace for the next term.

And if the pattern continues from previous elections, the majority of the seats will be occupied by the three alliances: the Nation, People's, and Labour and Freedom Alliance.

Erdoğan has been basing its campaign on the "Century of Turkey" vision and is expected to introduce his 23-point manifesto on 11 April.

He will be showcasing the projects AKP has realised for the last 20 years and new plans for the reconstruction of the disaster zone are expected to come to the fore.

At an event last October, the current leader already mentioned that his main goal is to change the constitution, saying amendments made so far weren't enough.

The controversial topic of his speech was about the institution of the family. "While the unity between woman and man based on legitimacy is scorned; perversion, immorality, and crooked relationships are being encouraged intentionally," he said.

On the other hand, the main opposition (Nation Alliance) is pledging to reverse many of Erdoğan's signature policies and has listed its election vows under nine main headings: highlighting justice, anti-corruption, and education as some of the top priorities.

The opposition wants to dismantle Erdoğan's executive presidency in favour of the previous parliamentary system.

The most striking of its promises are about economic and migration policies.

The alliance is promising to reduce inflation to single figures in two years and increase the national income per capita fivefold.

They also have been pledging to send two million Syrians back to their country within two years, on a voluntary basis.

Sharing live videos from his modest kitchen, Kılıçdaroğlu promises to fight corruption and vows to enhance freedom.

If they take power, Turkey will rejoin the Istanbul Convention he says, which aims to prevent gender-based violence, protect victims of violence, and punish perpetrators,

Also, the plans for Istanbul Canal will be abandoned, the Presidential Palace in Ankara will be opened to the public and the new address of the president will be the old palace, Çankaya Mansion.

What polls are indicating?

Election predictions point to a neck-and-neck race, unsurprisingly between Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu. They suggest a possible power change after more than two decades. However, many are sceptical of the polls and believe Erdoğan's grassroots will not betray him.

Based on the latest reports by 4 out of 5 research companies, Kılıçdaroğlu is ahead of Erdoğan by single figures. However, the numbers also suggest a second run-off.

According to the latest opinion polls conducted by 11 different companies, AKP is leading the race with over 32% of the votes, followed by the CHP projected to win around 27.6%. HDP, who will be running under Green Left Party, is in third place with around 10.7%.

The ruling AKP is losing ground against the opposition.

Looking at the overall votes of the two opposing blocs, the Nation Alliance is leading the polls with 42.2% while Erdoğan's People's Alliance is set to gain 40.6% of the votes.

What is at stake?

Without a doubt, high inflation and economic crisis top the election debates in the country.

According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TUİK) the annual inflation was recorded at 64.27% in 2022. But independent Inflation Research Group (ENAG), claims this figure was more than double in reality, at the rate of 137.55%.

The rocketing cost of living, particularly in the housing sector, and unemployment rates are the most important issues on the voter's agenda.

The government's response and the handling of the devastating earthquakes in February will be reflected at the ballot box.

Given that Turkey is the country with the highest number of refugees in the world, it is not surprising that voters consider migration to be another important issue. Some surveys show anti-migrant sentiment has increased as well as the number of migrants.

Erdoğan's critics say his government has muzzled dissent, eroded rights, and brought the judicial system under its sway, a charge denied by officials who say it has protected citizens in the face of unique security threats including a 2016 coup attempt.

Thousands of civil servants and academics were purged from public institutions after this botched seizure of power, following a crackdown on media that was regarded as a policy of silencing and intimidation.

Hence civil liberties are never off the agenda.

Last but not least, the upheaval caused by the devastating earthquakes in the southeast has heightened concerns about potential irregularities during the elections.

... and on election day

Selling or consuming alcohol in public places will be forbidden. All recreation centres will have to stay shut during the hours of voting. Venues that offer restaurant and entertainment facilities can only serve food to the customers.

No one, except law enforcement officers, can carry arms.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/everything-kn ... QW1wY4kprh