Turkey’s HDP says it has a key role in presidential elections, vows a victory against Erdogan

Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Pervin Buldan said HDP is aware that it has a key role in Turkey’s presidential elections and will work day and night to win the polls with this responsibility.

“We are aware that the HDP has an important role and responsibility in the presidential elections. We are aware that HDP has a key role,” Buldan said during a party meeting held in Western Manisa province on Sunday, Diken news website reported.

Turkey is gearing up for presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for June next year, arguably one of the most critical polls in the country’s history. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, supported by his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) governing ally far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will run for another term for presidency in the elections. Six opposition parties, including the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) who teamed up to restore a parliamentary system in Turkey, are also working to put forward a joint candidate to run against Erdogan. Pro-Kurdish HDP, Turkey’s second largest opposition which is not among the six party-table, has an important amount of supporters that is considered to have the power to change the direction of the nations’ vote on presidential elections.

Buldan said HDP has a great power to change the presidential government system and beat Erdogan in elections.

“Our people should not fall into any doubt on that,” Buldan said.

“We have a long path ahead of us which is full of obstacles. But we have the support of forces that want peace and democracy in this country. We promise you; we will succeed, we will win together,” she said.