“Reason for postponement is busy schedule of HDP Co-Chairs”

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party of Turkey (HDP) announced on Friday that the reason for the postponement of a visit to party headquarters by joint opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu was the busy schedule of HDP co-chairs, who will spend their time in earthquake-damaged cities that were also hit by heavy rains and flooding.

Earlier, when asked by journalists why the meeting was postponed, Kilicdaroglu replied, "You will not ask me about it, you'll ask the host."

A statement from the HDP confirmed that the visit was postponed in accordance with the HDP's request.

The statement said, "Our co-chairs are on the ground due to the flood disaster. The program density that occurred was a request from us. When the program is clarified again, we will inform about it."

An HDP representative who spoke with Arti Gercek also confirmed the press release and stated that the main reason for the postponement of the visit was the program in the flood-affected region.

The visit was scheduled for March 18, where Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kilicdaroglu was to meet with HDP co-chairs as part of his party visits.

The HDP, which accounts for 10-12% of the electoral vote, is widely seen as a kingmaker in presidential and parliamentary elections set for May 14, and the opposition bloc will likely need its support to end President Tayyip Erdogan's two-decade political rule.