Erdogan via Kurds could return Istanbul

Six weeks ago, Kurdish voters played a very important role in Turkey's elections. Social Democrat candidate Ekrem Imamoglu from the Republican People's Party (CHP) won the local elections in Istanbul and this mass victory defeated the Kurds' votes from the HDP Democratic People's Party. This party has deliberately attracted its candidates from several local elections in order to win CHP candidates, reports “DW”.

The plan has succeeded because the candidates of President Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) have failed the elections in Istanbul, Ankara, Adagne, Antalya. CHP party candidates have won elections in these countries, albinfo.ch conveys.

Concern over Kurdish votes

But victory in Istanbul has been disputed. The Electoral Commission has decided to cancel past elections and announce new elections, which should be held in Istanbul on June 23rd. Erdogan's opponents fear that he and the AKP may win because it may happen that Kurds do not strongly support the CHP. They are also afraid of Erdogan's party's move.

Shortly after declaring the elections, Erdogan's party has made an unusual gesture. It has decided for the first time since 2011 that the leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) Abdulah Ocalan has the right to contact others outside the prison.

The government permit was unexpected. Two lawyers have visited the Kurdish leader, who says instead of violence, we should work on finding political solutions. Banned Party Chief The PKK has been in prison for 20 years, mainly in solitary confinement.

The media speculates about the possibility of Erdogan beginning a new peaceful process with Kurds on the eve of elections, in order for Kurds to support his party's candidate in elections. A similar Erdogan strategy has been using in 2012 or 2015. Erdogan and the government have launched dialogue efforts, but they have been suspended after the June 2015 elections. Experts say the talks have been interrupted because AKP nationalists have begun to turn their backs on Erdogan's policy. So far there are no clear signs of a new process of dialogue with Kurds. Erdogan says “is not planned any new peaceful process.” HDP leaders say they will again support the CHP candidate. But it remains to be seen whether support will be like in previous elections.

Support

What about the Kurdish electors? Their decision will actually be known only after the elections, when it is seen who has won. One of the Kurdish leaders says they will again vote for the protection of human rights, justice and democracy, which according to him is the vote for the CHP. The whole world is actually concerned with canceling the vote in Istanbul. Disrespecting the outcome of the elections is disrespecting the will of the people and robbing of victory, Sakik thinks. Fatma Kurtulan also criticises the decision to repeat the elections.

Since 2016, Erdogan has changed the leaders of 97 Kurdish majority municipalities, elected by democratic means. The Turkish government has accused HDP members of co-operating with the AKP terrorist organisation. About 40 people are in jail. The HDP can now take power from the AKP in about 50 municipalities. But very few Kurds believe Kurds can have their own state there.