HDP may nominate former leader Demirtaş as presidential candidate, says co-chair

ANKARA

The Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has been considering nominating its own presidential candidate in the upcoming elections and jailed former leader Selahattin Demirtaş is among the potential candidates, HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli said on April 24. 

“Considering the party’s grassroots, it is not easy [for the opposition] to have a joint candidate. We have different principles. Every party should present their own nominees in the first round [of the presidential election]. The door to the second round will be opened by strong candidates. Thus, there may be an agreement on an opposition candidate [in the second round],” he told daily Hürriyet.

HDP supporters ‘will not vote for Akşener’ 

Temelli ruled out the possibility of their support for İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener’s candidacy, pointing to values upheld by HDP voters.

“Our grassroots will not vote [for Akşener]. That is why all parties should nominate their candidates, taking the second round into consideration. Their candidate should be inclusive of everyone,” he said.

When asked if they would vote for former President Abdullah Gül, Temelli said he is a “respected politician and should be taken into account,” but there has not been any formal contacts about the probability of his nomination.

“We have set up a pool of candidates. Our party assembly will convene before our central executive committee on May 2 and we will declare our candidate on May 3. Selahattin Demirtaş is in the pool of the candidates,” Temelli said.