HDP accepts snap elections, criticizes state of emergency rule

ANKARA

The Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has called for an emergency provincial leaders’ meeting in Ankara on April 18 in the wake of calls for an early election. 

The party “accepts the challenge” of the snap elections, HDP co-leader Pervin Buldan said on April 17, while stressing that holding an election under the state of emergency rule will be problematic.

“We, as the HDP, accept the challenge. Count us in for the elections. I am calling on all our provincial heads to be prepared for early elections,” Buldan told her party group.

“I am calling on all democratic fronts, women and leftist and socialist segments: The time to defeat the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP has arrived. The opportunity is the early elections,” she said. 

Her comments came after Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli called for early parliamentary and presidential elections in August this year.

Stating that the AKP and the MHP’s alliance for the upcoming elections, normally scheduled to be held in 2019, felt the urge to call snap elections, Buldan accused Bahçeli of being a mouthpiece for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“Bahçeli did not suggest that independently. Devlet Bahçeli cannot announce such a decision without President Erdoğan’s knowledge,” Buldan said.

She stressed that elections held under the state of emergency rule will not be democratic.

“How will this country hold elections democratically with anti-democratic laws and the current election laws,” she said.

She assured the HDP was ready for the elections.

“We are calling on our provincial heads and all people to get together for democracy and to struggle for freedom,” she said.