MESOP : Who will be the HDP’s Co-Presidents?

ANF – Istanbul 26.05.2014 – As the HDP prepares for its congress of 22 June, the HDP Co-President  Ertuğrul Kürkçü said that the names of BDP Co-President Selahattin Demirtaş and the ESP President Figen Yüksekdağ are among those being proposed for the Co-Presidents of the HDP. Kürkçü added that they would also visit Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan prior to the congress.

The HDP, which is holding an extraordinary congress in June, is expected to consolidate its claim to be an alternative, and is being seen as the natural home for communities suffering discrimination, religious groups and minorities. HDP Co-President Ertuğrul Kürkçü spoke to DİHA regarding the political process in Turkey and the HDP’s stance on the Presidential elections.

‘The congress will be a launch pad’

Kürkçü said that following the party congress they would subject the organisation to a process of reconstruction, making great changes in all areas, including the posts of Co-President.

Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ proposed as Co-Presidents

Kürkçü gave a clue as to the answer to the question as to who will be Co-Presidents, saying that the BDP has proposed Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ. Kürkçü added that the HDP considered this to be an appropriate proposal, that alternative proposals might be made, and that a decision would be made by those components participating in the congress..

HDP’s presidential candidate will be a woman

Replying to a question regarding the Presidential elections, Kürkçü said that they would put up a candidate who had made efforts to resolve the Kurdish question, adding that the candidate would be a woman and “for us it is important that the candidate be someone who believes wholeheartedly in the equality of all cultures.” Kürkçü added that the name of the candidate would be announced at the congress. Before the congress Kürkçü and Tuncel will go to İmralı

Kürkçü said that prior to the congress they would visit Abdullah Öcalan and inform him of latest developments, adding that both they and Öcalan considered this meeting to be of crucial importance.

‘If the government does not take steps tension will increase’

Kürkçü mentioned recent talks held by a HDP delegation in Kandil with KCK officials and also talks with members of the government, saying the government had informed them that steps would be taken towards putting the process on a legal footing. Kürkçü added that the government’s strategy was to take as few steps as possible and to delay these steps as long as possible, saying it could make moves towards influencing the Presidential elections. Kürkçü said that in the process of dialogue Öcalan attached great importance to a Law on Negotiation and a Law on Democratic Autonomy, “In this regard I gather that Ministers who have been directly involved in talks have said they will take steps. If there is no movement from the government in the next 6 weeks then the situation may become really tense,” he concluded.