Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP) has outlined its process for selecting candidates for the local elections scheduled for 31 March 2024.
With the deadline for candidacy applications set for 10 December, the party, which holds a significant presence in several districts and cities, will use a primary election system named “urban consensus” to select co-mayoral candidates. This process will also determine two-thirds of the candidates for municipal and provincial council memberships.
The primary elections are expected to involve nearly 200 locations, including towns, districts, and cities.
Saruhan Oluç, HEDEP’s deputy group co-chair, provided insights into the “urban consensus” model, the candidate selection process, and strategies for Turkey’s western cities.
In the context of Turkish politics and cultural geography, the distinction between “West” and “East” often carries significant implications. The Western regions of Turkey are typically referred to as ‘Turkey’ in a conventional sense, encompassing major cities and regions that are predominantly Turkish and reflect the broader national identity and political landscape of the country. On the other hand, the Eastern regions are often associated with the Kurdish population and culture, and in political discussions, this area is sometimes referred to as ‘Kurdistan’. This term is used to acknowledge the distinct cultural, ethnic and political identity of the Kurdish people in these regions.
Following the general elections in May, HEDEP engaged in a period of self-critique and assessment, conducting numerous public meetings. These meetings highlighted the need for primary elections to select candidates, reflecting the demands of party members and the public. “We will conduct primaries in every area, allowing broad participation through ‘urban consensus’,” Oluç stated.
Oluç underscored that only those participating in the primaries could be nominated as candidates, in accordance with the decisions taken at the party congress. “This is not a decision made by any committee but a resolution passed at the congress, the highest authority of the party. Not following it would mean overriding the congress’s decision,” Oluç remarked.
Regarding their strategy in western cities, Oluç mentioned that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) showed a tendency to field candidates in all cities. The final decision on this matter will be made by the Party Council, considering local dynamics and input from civil society and opinion leaders.
Oluç also addressed the party’s openness to alliances. “Our door is open to everyone, but we will not engage in secret diplomacy. Any discussions will be transparent and public. We are not shutting our doors to anyone, but we continue our work as if there will be no collaboration or partnership,” he explained. He refuted allegations from government circles of using negotiations to gain leverage, clarifying that the party’s aim is to secure the highest possible electoral success across various regions and administrative levels. The CEC has taken measures to ensure no aspect of the campaign is overlooked, he added.
