The Green Left Party celebrated the Eid al-Fitr, a global Muslim holiday marking the conclusion of the month-long Ramadan fast, visiting several provinces across Turkey and meeting with the public.
The party is fielding candidates on behalf of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which is at risk of being shut down by the Constitutional Court.
Green Left co-chairs have issued an Eid message on 20 April, urging citizens to “enlarge the sense of solidarity” that emerged during the recent earthquake and “turn it into a real change and transformation” on 14 May, when the elections will take place. The party hopes to win 100 seats in parliament.
The Green Left Party has been actively campaigning for the upcoming elections, with candidates travelling from village to village during Eid Ramazan to connect with residents and listen to their concerns. The party’s Diyarbakır (Amed) office and candidates have met with great interest from villagers, and stated that the May elections are of great importance for the liberation of the people, calling for Kurdish unity in their speeches. The parliamentary candidates listened to the villager’s problems in making a proper living from agriculture and animal husbandry, and have promised to work to solve these issues.
In addition to village visits, the Green Left Party has opened an election office in the Haymana district of the capital Ankara and visited city districts with the campaign convoy to encourage people to vote for the party and “overthrow the order”. The party thanked voters for their support, promising to build peace and solidarity, and highlighting the poverty of the Haymana Plain.
The party’s co-spokeswoman, Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, participated in a picnic organised by the party youth, emphasising the importance of the youth’s role in shaping the new century.
Green Left parliamentary candidate Hasan Yıldırım celebrated Eid at his election office in Muğla with the public, promising to “carry the 21-year rule of the AKP to the dustbin of history.”
In Kurdish-majority cities of Bingöl (Çewlîg) and Muş (Mûş), the party’s parliamentary candidates Cemile Turhalı, Ömer Faruk Hülakî, Faruk Arıs, and Serhat Dursun celebrated Eid with the public and visited various political party offices. The candidates emphasised their trust in the people and their commitment to building social peace.
In the earthquake-hit city of Şanlıurfa (Riha), party officials visited several rural neighbourhoods and exchanged Eid greetings with citizens, promising to work tirelessly until 14 May and to send the ruling coalition of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) out of power in this election.
The party organised a holiday celebration program also in the Turkey’s Kurdish-majority city Batman (Êlih), which turned into a political rally attended by several political figures, including the spokeswoman for the HDP Women’s Council, Ayşe Acar Başaran, and various local candidates. Other groups, such as the Peace Mothers’ Assembly, were also present at the gathering. The party’s candidates have been actively campaigning in other cities, including Aydın, Bursa, and Tekirdağ, and have held public meetings to connect with the public.
On Friday, the HDP Co-chair Mithat Sancar celebrated Eid in Hatay, a southern city in Turkey hit in the February earthquakes. During a public gathering, he declared that Hatay is prepared for the upcoming May 14 elections and that together they will pave the way for a new way of life. He also stated that the people’s struggle will result in a victory of change and transformation.
Later on Friday, the HDP delegation went to Erzin to meet with residents and celebrate the holiday with them. The gathering turned into a rally as the crowd grew too big to fit in front of the HDP district building. In the rally, HDP deputy Tülay Hatimoğulları and the candidates emphasised the significance of the upcoming election. Furthermore, during a public meeting in Serinyol, Green Left Party parliamentary candidate Şirin Nur Vural criticised the lack of assistance during the earthquake and said they will not forget what happened and will hold those responsible accountable.
