Gov't wants to rouse nationalism within us, CHP by demonizing HDP, İYİ Party MP says
İYİ Party deputy Hasan Subaşı has said that the government wants to rouse nationalist tendencies within the İYİ Party and the CHP by demonizing the HDP. "I don't think the CHP would fall for this trap with its experience. As the İYİ Party, we are prone to getting more excited over our national sensitivities, but we are more experienced now," he said.
Duvar English
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) wants to rouse nationalist tendencies within the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the İYİ (Good) Party via demonizing the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a deputy said.
İYİ Party deputy Hasan Subaşı said that the only subject discussed on TV is the HDP in recent days, which, according to him, is a move to prevent possible alliances ahead of the possible early elections.
Turkey's presidential system made it necessary for parties to form alliances to reach 50 percent plus one. The AKP is allied with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), while the CHP and İYİ Party were allied in the previous elections, but received outside backing from the HDP.
While future alliances within the opposition remain unknown, Subaşı said that the government aims to prevent the CHP and İYİ Party from getting HDP supporters' votes.
"Even if there is no alliance with the HDP, which parties do you think HDP voters will support? The party that's most critical of the government is the HDP. It's highly likely that its supporters will vote for the opposition alliance's presidential candidate. The government would then lose," Subaşı said.
"The government is busy in trying to prevent that," he said, adding that it tries to make it seem that the HDP is equal to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Subaşı noted that the opposition needs to act in a coldblooded manner and re-form its alliance, which is called the Nation Alliance.
"The votes of those against the current regime are enough to change the government," the deputy said.
"I don't think the CHP would fall for this trap with its experience. As the İYİ Party, we are prone to getting more excited over our national sensitivities, but we are more experienced now," he added.
Saying that the HDP is a legal party with over six million votes, Subaşı noted that if there are "criminals" within the HDP, the state would do what's necessary and the party would continue on its path.