Arnaldo Otegi, the general secretary of Basque’s EH Bildu, became the latest European politician to voice support for the pro-Kurdish party in Turkey’s 14 May polls.
The People’s Democratic Party (HDP), facing threats of closure ahead of 14 May polls, fielded its parliamentary candidates under the Green Left Party (YSP).
“Dear friends, important elections will be held in Turkey on 14 May. It is more necessary than ever to get behind a strong alliance to defend human rights and freedom for the Kurdish people,” Otegi said in a video message.
“For this reason, EH Bildu, Basque pro-independence left, wishes to express its full support for the HDP and the party of the Green Left under which HDP candidates will stand,” he said.
The Basque politician said that the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule must end so that all people in Turkey, including Kurds, can regain their rights and freedoms.
“An EH Bildu delegation will go to Turkey to defend all the issues I have mentioned,” Otegi added.
Otegi, a convicted member of ETA, is widely known for his efforts to persuade Basque’s separatist group to abandon violent tactics.
