HDP weighs alternatives for elections in case court shuts it down

The HDP has started to weigh its alternatives to compete in elections in case a court rules to shut it down. One of the options is to compete in elections under the roof of another party, while the other one is to nominate independent candidates.

Sunday July 18 2021 12:40 pm

Duvar English

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has been weighing its alternatives in case that the Constitutional Court shuts it down.

The party is evaluating three options, HDP sources told Duvar, with the first one being defending the party and not allowing it to be shut down.

In case that the top court rules for its closure, the party will seek to compete in elections under the roof of another party that's a component of the HDP. The said party may carry out changes in its bylaws and its name, as well as hold a congress in order for it to reflect the HDP's principle of pluralism.

A third option will be on the table if problems occur with another party, which will see HDP politicians compete in elections with independent candidates.

Turkey's Constitutional Court accepted an indictment filed by a top prosecutor seeking a ban on the HDP for alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) last month.

The case follows a years-long crackdown on the HDP, in which thousands of its members have been tried on mainly terrorism-related charges. The party denies links to terrorism and describes the case as a "political operation."

The judges unanimously accepted the indictment from Turkey's top appeals court and it was sent to the HDP for its initial defense.

Elections are scheduled to be held in June 2023 in Turkey.