HDP disappointment as BDP makes gains

APO’s HDP idea was not successful (MESOP)

ANF – Istanbul 01.04.2014 – HDP Co-President Sebahat Tuncel commented on the disappointing results achieved by the People’s Democracy Party (HDP) in the local elections in Turkey, saying: “We will debate the reasons for this. But there is a need for the HDP and we will enlarge the party and make it the main opposition party in Turkey.” Sebahat Tuncel, evaluating the election results for ANF, said: “it is evident that we will have to work harder in order for the HDP to become an effective force and a strong alternative.” Tuncel added that prior to the elections the HDP was the name on everyone’s lips, adding that both the Prime Minister had targeted it, and the CHP leader, who had claimed they could not work together, as “it will harm us.”

ANF asked Sebahat Tuncel the following questions:

What do these election results tell the HDP? What will the HDP do now? Why did the AKP vote increase? 

The BDP are the victors in this election

“Although these were local elections, they were more like a general election. The polarisation in Turkey was reflected at the ballot box. We can say that the BDP come out on top. Its vote in Kurdistan demonstrated that our people are insistent on peace, freedom and self government. Although in Turkey the HDP only slightly increased the vote previously achieved by the BDP, since it was our first election it is significant. But it could have been better. There were disadvantages, like the lynch campaign against our party and the psychological pressure exerted by the CHP-Hizmet front, but in order for the HDP to play an effective role our tasks and responsibilities are arduous. It is apparent that we have not yet established a bond with the people of Turkey. Before the elections we discussed it, and we were aware there was a risk in contesting the elections with the BDP in Kurdistan and the HDP in Turkey. But we thought it was important as regards recruiting and organising the party. We contested the elections in 54 provinces. We consider this to be a gain in such a short time, but it is clear we are only at the beginning.”

How will the HDP move on from here?

We will assess the situation. It has been three years of work as the Peoples Democratic Congress (HDK). We were established as a party for elections. How will we move on? What will be the relationship of the component parties of the HDP? Will we organise the HDP all over Turkey? Or will we reduce the level and continue as the HDK? We have to make a rapid evaluation, but it is evident that there is a need for the HDP and we are in a position to enlarge the party and make it the main opposition in Turkey. We have to assess the political atmosphere in Turkey and the election results and decide how we will continue. The HDP has become an alternative. We will discuss how to develop it.