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Turkey
From left TIP leader, Erkan Bas, Green left co-spox Ibrahim Akin, HDP co-chair, Mithat Sancar on April 8, 2023 in Ankara. Photo: HDP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Six Turkish parties on Saturday announced their political alliance's plan in running in hotly-contested May 14 parliamentary elections. The Green Left Party is a bid to prevent the largest pro-Kurdish party from being shut out of the election by a pending court case that seeks to have the party permanently closed.
The parties, members of the Labour and Freedom Alliance, will field candidates across Turkey under the new Green Left umbrella.
“As a result of our meetings, the Labor Movement Party (EHP), the Labor Party (EMEP), the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Federation of Socialist Assemblies (SMF) and the Social Freedom Party (TOP), which are in our alliance, decided to participate in the elections with joint lists from the Green Left Party in 81 provinces,” said a statement read by Green Left co-spokesperson Ibrahim Akin in Ankara.
HDP was founded in 2012 as a pro-Kurdish leftist party. With a diverse group of candidates from devout Muslims to minority representatives, socialists, and LGBT activists, HDP shook up Turkey’s political landscape when it passed the threshold and entered parliament in 2015.
The party acted as an intermediary during the peace process between the Turkish state and the PKK between 2013 and 2015, short years of hope that the decades-long conflict that left tens of thousands dead might finally come to an end. The talks collapsed in 2015.
In 2021, Turkey’s chief prosecutor filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court seeking the dissolution of the HDP for alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The case is ongoing and the next hearing is scheduled for April 11.
The HDP established the Green Left as an alternative in case the Turkish government shuts them down.
The Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP), which is the sixth member of the Labour and Freedom Alliance, will field their own candidates in 49 provinces and will support the Green Left in the rest of the country. TIP’s decision angered some within the Green Left who think it will result in splitting the votes which will ultimately benefit the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
The parties, members of the Labour and Freedom Alliance, will field candidates across Turkey under the new Green Left umbrella.
“As a result of our meetings, the Labor Movement Party (EHP), the Labor Party (EMEP), the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Federation of Socialist Assemblies (SMF) and the Social Freedom Party (TOP), which are in our alliance, decided to participate in the elections with joint lists from the Green Left Party in 81 provinces,” said a statement read by Green Left co-spokesperson Ibrahim Akin in Ankara.
HDP was founded in 2012 as a pro-Kurdish leftist party. With a diverse group of candidates from devout Muslims to minority representatives, socialists, and LGBT activists, HDP shook up Turkey’s political landscape when it passed the threshold and entered parliament in 2015.
The party acted as an intermediary during the peace process between the Turkish state and the PKK between 2013 and 2015, short years of hope that the decades-long conflict that left tens of thousands dead might finally come to an end. The talks collapsed in 2015.
In 2021, Turkey’s chief prosecutor filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court seeking the dissolution of the HDP for alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The case is ongoing and the next hearing is scheduled for April 11.
The HDP established the Green Left as an alternative in case the Turkish government shuts them down.
The Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP), which is the sixth member of the Labour and Freedom Alliance, will field their own candidates in 49 provinces and will support the Green Left in the rest of the country. TIP’s decision angered some within the Green Left who think it will result in splitting the votes which will ultimately benefit the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
The leader of TIP, Erkan Bas said they analysed the situation and will not pose a challenge in districts where HDP has strong support. “The TIP will [independently] enter the elections in just seven electoral districts where HDP has previously elected MPs,” he said.
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