HDP begins visiting opposition parties to discuss election declaration

Nergis Demirkaya / DUVAR

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has begun visiting other opposition parties to discuss its newly unveiled declaration calling for the replacement of the current presidential system with a parliamentary form of government.

The first stop of the party was the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (HDP).

On Sept. 27, the HDP released an 11-point declaration saying that the opposition should agree on common principles for the upcoming elections in order to defeat the governing coalition. It said that although it “does not have the intention of joining any existing alliances,” it is looking to form a "democracy alliance" with the opposition parties, with a priority on the return to a parliamentary system. The declaration also called for a new democratic constitution and a resolution for the Kurdish issue in Turkey.

To discuss the declaration named "Call for Justice, Democracy and Peace Declaration,” a HDP delegation consisting of the party's group deputy chair Saruhan Oluç, Central Executive Board (MYK) member Tuncer Bakırhan and Mersin lawmaker Fatma Kurtulan on Oct. 7 held a meeting with CHP deputy chair Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, CHP General Secretary Selin Sayek Böke and chp Istanbul lawmaker Mehmet Bekaroğlu.

Salıcı shared a photo from the meeting on his Twitter account and said that the two sides had exchanged views on the HDP's declaration.

The HDP also released a statement on its Twitter account, saying: “We are sharing our 'Call to Democracy Declaration' with opposition parties.”

The same HDP delegation will later hold meetings with officials of the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), Future Party and Felicity Party to discuss the declaration.

The HDP has not yet demanded to talk to Good (İYİ) Party officials.

Bakırhan said that the HDP will ask for the opinion of not only opposition parties, but also unions, labor organizations and belief groups about its Sept. 27 declaration. “Our aim is to explain it [the declaration] and receive their criticism and views. We want to talk about problems that concern 84 million people [of Turkey] and our suggestions with regards to them,” Bakırhan said.

Bakırhan said that the HDP has so far received very positive feedback with regards to the document and the CHP had similarly found it to be “very positive and constructive.”

Representatives of six opposition parties – CHP, İYİ Party, Felicity Party, Democrat Party (DP), Future Party and DEVA – have been discussing the details of a system that envisages a strengthened parliamentary system, impartial presidency and independent judiciary.

The leaders of the parties have not yet attended these meetings, but are working to issue a joint declaration that will set the alliance's common principles for the next elections.

Although the DEVA and the Future Party are not part of the Nation Alliance, they frequently express their support for it.

KONDA Research Company General Manager Bekir Ağırdır said in a recent interview that although these meetings were important in terms of the opposition joining its power, a real change cannot be achieved if the HDP and parties representing the left continue to be excluded from them.