HDP might not support candidate of opposition if it continues backing militaristic policies

HDP might not support candidate of opposition if it continues backing militaristic policies
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"Whenever the government raises the flag, the opposition parties fall in line," a HDP official criticized opposition parties.

An official of the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) who spoke to +Gercek on condition of anonymity, criticized opposition parties who either expressed support or remained silent over the Turkish military's recent attacks in Northern Syria, and said that HDP will not back the opposition bloc's candidate in the coming elections if these parties continue to support policies of war.

Telling +Gercek's Seda Taskin that the government staged similar scenarios before the snap elections in November 2015, the official said:

"The government now implements the same scenario, but this time it will have different consequences. The opposition unfortunately assumes a negative stance. Whenever the government raises the flag, the opposition parties fall in line."

The official added: "If they make the same mistake, no matter who their presidential candidate is, we will not support that candidate."

Meral Akşener, the leader of the opposition Good Party and a former member of the far right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said upon the air strikes on 20-21 November:

"I wish success for the Turkish army in the recent cross border operation in Syria. May our soldiers be safe."

Kemal Kılıçdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has remained silent about the air raids.

Seda Taskin noted that the CHP officials she contacted did not want to comment on the issue either.

Almost all polls show that even if the six parties in the opposition bloc agree on a candidate, their candidate is not likely to win without the support of HDP.