HDP celebrates success at polls in Istanbul, Van

ISTANBUL

AFP Photo

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) celebrated its success in key parliamentary elections in Istanbul and the eastern province of Van, one day after the votes were cast. 

The most closely watched player in the elections, the HDP celebrated its passing the 10 percent threshold and reception of around 13 percent of all the votes cast during the two rallies, in which the HDP co-chairs attended. 

While co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş was in Istanbul for the celebrations in the Bakırköy district, fellow co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ was in Van. 

People danced the traditional “halay” dances as drums and shrill pipes, which are common in Anatolia, played celebratory tunes. 

Both Demirtaş and HDP Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder announced that HDP supporters and observers at ballot boxes should not leave the polls for celebrations on June 7, to avoid any fraud at the polls and to prevent provocations.

“All of our friends should not abandon their duties. No one should take to the streets for celebrations. You deserve to be happy, but not yet,” Demirtaş said in a tweet. 

The HDP’s passing of the threshold was a crucial point in the June 7 elections, as without the HDP crossing the threshold, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has already been in power for 13 years, would likely have received enough deputies to form a single-party government.

Despite Demirtaş and Önder’s calls, HDP supporters celebrated their party’s success with fireworks and gunshots in eastern and southeastern provinces, where the HDP received massive amounts of votes and became the leading party.