HDP reiterates willingness to be part of election government

ANKARA - Doğan News Agency

CİHAN photo

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will be part of the election government, HDP spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen has said, a reiteration of the party’s willingness after negotiations failed to form a coalition government during the 45-day legal period after the parliamentary election in early June.

“We will not avoid being part of the election government. We will take responsibility as the country is heading to the polls,” Bilgen said on Aug. 25.

Bilgen said the HDP was open to talk to anyone bringing a peace-themed program and the party will not avoid taking part in the election government.

“The HDP will claim responsibility on the reflection of the public will freely in the upcoming November elections,” Bilgen said, adding the HDP was not a political party which “says no to every offer.”

The statement came hours after HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş said his party was ready to take part in an interim power-sharing government.

“We will have no hesitation in exercising our constitutional right and participating in the government. But we should not be surprised if they breach the constitution and try to form a government without the HDP. Such an attempt would be rejected by the Constitutional Court,” he said, adding his party would not be too particular about which cabinet portfolios it may be offered but half of any cabinet should be made up of women.