ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) could offer one the nation’s deputy presidencies to a Kurd if the CHP candidate, Muharrem Ince, wins the June 24 election.
As Turkey’s largest opposition party, founded by the father of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, the CHP has the best chance among rivals of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of unseating incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
If the party is able to end Erdogan’s 16-year rule, Kurdish parties, particularly the leftist Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), could acquire significant influence. Such an eventuality could see the HDP’s jailed presidential candidate, Selahattin Demirtas, whisked from prison to the palace.
Gursel Tekin, the CHP’s second in command, says there is an agreement with the Kurds of Turkey about their role in an Ince-led government.
“As our candidate Mr. Ince has also hinted, one of the deputy presidents would definitely be a Kurd,” Tekin told Rudaw.
Erdogan’s AKP, which must court the support of Turkey’s substantial Kurdish minority, readily admits it has a tough election ahead – but insists the Kurdish question has already been solved.
“What are their problems? They have MPs. They are all Kurds. They could name their children in their language the way they want. They were unable to do so in the past. But they enjoy this right now. They have own TV. There are TVs in Turkey broadcasting in Kurdish. Then what are their demands. We and they share the same rights,” Noor Salca, an AKP member, told Rudaw.
According to many polls, the HDP, representing the majority of Kurds in Turkey, will secure 10 to 12 percent of the vote.
HDP supporters say they are willing to accept deals with anyone to force Erdogan from office.
“As opposition we believe if we are united, Erdogan will not be able to make it. We think if it is not for the Kurdish votes, he will not prevail and this is a fact of this election. Kurds should vote for Muharrem Ince and make him prevail, then one of his deputies will be a Kurd – and he is Demirtas,” Hozan Gur, the former head of HDP’s Istanbul branch, told Rudaw.
