Representatives of democratic and pro-Kurdish organisations urged the Kurdish population along with all peoples of Turkey to go to the polls and vote to defeat Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s authoritarian regime in the presidential election runoffs on 28 May.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, running for the Turkish presidency for the third time, failed to secure a majority with 49,51 per cent in the first round on 14 May, advancing to the runoff against the opposition’s candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who received 44,88 per cent of the votes.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which entered the elections under the Green Left Party’s banner due to an ongoing closure case, had decided not to field its own candidate and support Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the centre-left Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the presidential race.
Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Berdan Öztürk said that Erdoğan represents a century-old mindset based on denial, destruction and assimilation of Kurds: “May the new one be a century of an honourable peace and democracy, and let’s build it together. Of course, the first step to achieving this is only possible by overthrowing the president in the run-off election.”
“We say it loud and clear,” Öztürk addressed to those unsure about voting, “Without any hesitation, they should go to the polls and vote as a response to Erdoğan and his mentality.”
Saruhan Oluç, MP of the Green Left Party, told Mezopotamya Agency that they have “put a brake on the institutionalisation of fascism” in the first round, and added: “In order to complete a reckoning, it is necessary to achieve the desired outcome in the result of May 28th.”
Referring to the majority achieved by the ruling People’s Alliance in the parliament as “anti-women, anti-labour and definitely anti-Kurd”, Oluç said that the voter turnout on 14 May polls needs to increase in the run-offs: “It is essential to vote and achieve a democratic change, otherwise this government is ready to do worse things than they have done so far.”
Mahmut Dindar, MP of the Green Left Party stressed that they have thousands of supporters who did not vote, and called on people “to go to the polls and vote for Kılıçdaroğlu, and thus allow the country to truly breathe a sigh of relief.”
“As the parliament’s third largest party, our determination to defeat the regime persists in the run-offs” said Seyit Bilal Evren, the Green Left Party’s Batman (Êlih) provincial co-spokesperson, in a joint statement with the Democratic Regions Party (DBP).
“All opposition factions, especially the Kurdish people, have shown significance resistance in this challenging period of struggle. And let us say once again that: are here and we are strong. […] In the next 10 days we can put an end to this darkness and evil,” said Evren, while DBP co-chair Keskin Bayındır added: “Currently, all our focus is on the presidential election. With our aim to close the gates of hell, we will make every effort possible.”
Those who want freedom to our people’s will in municipal elections and establish democracy in Turkey must support Kılıçdaroğlu on 28 May, said the Green Left Party-elected MP and the Chair of Kurdistan Communist Party (KKP) Sinan Çiftyürek.
In its statement, the Socialist Refoudation Party (SYKP) pointed out to the extensive powers of the presidency in the current system, despite the undesirable distribution in the parliamentary seats, and said, “There is still a possibility for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to win. For this, we must use all our strength.”
