Departing from its previous approach, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP) is set to independently field its own candidates in the upcoming local elections across the country. Moving away from aligning with other electoral alliances, HEDEP’s spokeswoman Ayşegül Doğan detailed this strategic pivot during a press conference on Monday. The party introduces the ‘urban consensus model’ for candidate selection, a novel approach aiming to involve a broad spectrum of community stakeholders, not limited to party members. This new strategy marks a transformative moment for HEDEP, positioning it as a standalone contender in Turkey’s political landscape.
Ayşegül Doğan highlighted the Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) discussions on the nationwide approach to fielding candidates. This significant move, pending further evaluation and approval by the Party Assembly, represents HEDEP’s commitment to broadening its political footprint across Turkey. This strategy marks a shift from its previous regional focus, aiming to establish a presence in all areas of the country.
The party’s Local Election and Administration Committee has been diligently working on fieldwork, reports, and research, with efforts culminating in the development of a new primary election model, Doğan explained. This model is a cornerstone of HEDEP’s revised electoral strategy and reflects the party’s dedication to innovative political practices.
Central to HEDEP’s strategy is the concept of competing through ‘an urban consensus model’. This approach goes beyond merely influencing election outcomes – it is intended to secure a victory. The urban consensus model is designed to foster a participatory atmosphere in the election process, aligning with the party’s vision for ecological, sex equality-focused local governance and echoing the public’s demands for peace, freedom and equality.
The party’s primary election model is notably inclusive, aiming to encompass a broad spectrum of voices in candidate selection. Breaking away from the traditional model in which only party members vote, HEDEP’s urban consensus model invites members of democratic organisations, families, past administrators, and city contributors to participate. This approach is a pioneering move in Turkish politics, democratising the candidate selection process to include a wider community involvement.
In a further display of the party’s commitment to this inclusive approach, HEDEP plans to select two-thirds of its Municipal Council and Provincial General Council members through the primary process. This method ensures that a wide range of perspectives and voices are represented, reflecting the diverse needs and aspirations of the communities they aim to serve.
In her closing remarks, Doğan underscored HEDEP’s resolve to counter any attempts to establish trustee administrations against the will of Kurdish people.
