A bold change in strategy from Demirtas: Believe me, we can win this election
"Let’s first take the plank out of our eyes, before removing the speck from others," HDP former co-chair Demirtas wrote in an article for T24 as he called on his followers for a political change to conciliate with other opposition parties ahead of next year’s elections.
Six Turkish opposition parties have been stepping up collaboration as an informal coalition in their bid to unseat President Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP (Justice and Development Party) in next year’s elections, but so far failed to include the HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party), Turkey’s second biggest opposition party, in their six meetings to identify shared principles.
“Currently a structural cooperation between the group of six opposing parties and the HDP seems unlikely. AKP’s misconceptions (about the HDP) and the opposition's lack of courage to respond with a bold move of change are the main reasons for this. But of course, HDP also has its own shortcomings.” he said.
One big issue against the HDP in the group of six is the fear of losing electorate because of AKP’s recurrent claims about HDP being merely a political wing of PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), a militant group that took up arms against Turkey since 1984 and seen as a terrorist organization by the US and the EU.
“We need to explain clearly in the most appropriate language that we know that politics and violence cannot coexist, and that we are working seriously for an honorable peace.” Demirtas said, Calling HDP followers to respect the sensitivities of the six opposition parties.
“If the opposition despite our moves continue to surrender to the AKP’s delusions, only then will we have the right to blame them.” Demirtas said.
Drawing attention to the multi centered nature of the group of six, Demirtas pointed out their disadvantage against a monolithic ruling party.
“The strategy to overcome this hurdle is to create a common language, a common use of media, common slogans, joint actions and activities, joint resolution projects and finally a joint candidate for the presidential elections” Demirtas said. “Believe me, we can win this election by 80/20 if we can do this.”
