Swing vote in hand, HDP's alliance will not put up candidate for Turkey's presidential election

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The third-largest election alliance in Turkey has decided not to nominate a candidate for the presidential election, leaders of the alliace announced today (March 22).

At a press conference in Ankara, Pervin Buldan, co-leader of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the leading party of the alliance, said, "We'll fulfill our historical responsibility against the one-man rule. We are determined to hold this government, which continued a rule based on poverty and corruption."

The alliance's aim is to ensure judicial independence, gender equality, better living and working conditions for the people, and to make a new constitution including these, said Buldan.

While she criticized the ruling party and the presidential system throughout her speech, she refrained from openly announcing support for the opposition candidate. Both the HDP and the six-party main opposition alliance have advocated a return to a parliamentary system.

Swing vote

The position of the Labor and Freedom Alliance is anticipated to be crucial for the outcome of the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections as almost all polls show that neither the ruling bloc nor the main opposition alliance will achieve a clear victory. Fifty percent plus one vote is needed for the election of the president. If no candidates achieve this, a second round will be held two weeks later.

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will compete in the name of the People's Alliance to extend his two-decade rule. His main ally is the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), is the candidate of the Nation's Alliance, which comprises six parties.

Kılıçdaroğlu meeting

Kılıçdaroğlu visited the HDP on March 20, seeking their support to defeat Erdoğan. HDP had announced earlier that they would decide whether or not to nominate a candidate after Kılıçdaroğlu's visit.

Apart from the HDP, the Labor and Freedom Alliance comprises the Labor Party (EMEP), the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), the Federation of Socialist Assemblies (SMF), the Laborist Movement Party (EHP), and the Social Freedom Party (TÖP).

The HDP faces a closure case ahead of the elections due to its alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Constitutional Court today rejected an application from the party to make a defense after the elections.

In case of a verdict for its closure, the party is reportedly considering to compete in the elections under the Green Left (Yeşil Sol) Party. In October, the Green Left replaced its symbol with one similar to that of the HDP. (RT/VK)