HDP co-chair warns members on voting

ERZURUM – Doğan News Agency

AFP Photo

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has warned his party’s members not to abandon ballot boxes until official results are announced. 

“You will never leave the polls on the evening of June 7 from the time the ballot boxes start to be opened until the official results are announced,” said Demirtaş June 4 during a party rally in the eastern province of Erzurum. 

“You will not take to the streets for celebrations. Our party will not have an official celebration on the evening of June 7. If you leave the ballot boxes for the sake of celebrations then you will give credit to the thieves,” Demirtaş said, in references to possible voting fraud. “We will hold a celebration if we get a good victory on June 8.” 

Meanwhile, clashes erupted in Erzurum just hours before Demirtaş’s rally. A group of around 1,000 people carrying Turkish flags on their backs started marching at 10 a.m. near the area where the HDP rally was going to be held while also chanting slogans of “This is Erzurum, there is no way out.” 

Police intervened against the group with anti-riot vehicles, while a police officer and some protestors were wounded in the head. 

A minivan with HDP flags on it was also set on fire after it was attacked with stones. The driver of the van was rescued before being totally burnt, although he was hospitalized for the burns.

In response to a wave of attacks against HDP election activities around Turkey, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a supra organization that includes the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), called for supporters to protect the HDP and vote en masse for the party.