Leftist Alliance convenes amid reports of dispute between HDP and TIP

Leftist Alliance convenes amid reports of dispute between HDP and TIP
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The leaders of Turkey’s Labor and Freedom Alliance gathered to discuss their stance on the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. Reports signal discord between HDP and TIP whether or not to participate in the elections with a single list

Six leftist parties that make up the Labor and Freedom Alliance in Turkey gathered on Thursday to discuss their stance on the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections amid reports signaling discord between the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Turkish Workers Party (TIP,) both members of the alliance, over whether or not to participate in the elections with a single list.

Sultan Ozcan, a member of the HDP's Central Executive Committee, told Arti Gercek that they have decided to participate in the elections under a single party and a single list. However, she added that this decision will be discussed during the meeting and the HDP had authorized its Co-Chairs, Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, to negotiate with the parties in the Labor and Freedom Alliance.

However, an earlier report by Halk TV columnist Ismail Saymaz claimed that although the HDP uses the term "negotiation," it is essentially an attempt to persuade TIP to drop its plans to run its own candidates.

Saymaz claimed that TIP has decided to run in 41 cities with its own name, logo, and candidates, and may consider leaving the alliance if this request was rejected by the HDP.

TIP's Istanbul deputy Sera Kadigil's recent statement that "we can compete in Istanbul" had earlier fueled protests among social media among HDP supporters.