CHP considers Kilicdaroglu's visit to HDP likely

It is perfectly normal for a presidential candidate running for the country's leadership to visit each political party and explain what he intends to do, a prominent member of the main opposition said Tuesday.

Ozgur Ozel, deputy chairman of the CHP (Republican People's Party), said that a visit by Kemal Kilicdaroglu to the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was "likely" after he was nominated by the Nation Alliance to run against President Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential election.

HDP Co-Chair Mithat Sancar on Monday said he expects Kilicdaroglu to visit party headquarters "to talk about the principles" for the upcoming elections, adding that the party could withdraw its decision to field its own candidate and support a joint candidate.

"The HDP, like others, is a party that was elected by the people and received 6 million votes. Ignoring them, alienating them, will not do. I myself have already visited the HDP," Ozel said.

The HDP, with its 10-13 percent of the vote, is essentially seen as a kingmaker between two competing political blocs.

Without the HDP's votes, the presidential election will likely be a two-round affair, and few believe that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or any of his opponents can win enough votes to clear the 50 percent hurdle in the first round.

In the 2019 local elections, in which CHP candidates were supported, the opposition captured major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.