HDP's candidate Demirtaş accuses PM Erdoğan of engaging in sectarianism

ISTANBUL

Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and presidential candidate, speaks during an election rally in Istanbul's Kadıköy, Aug. 3. REUTERS PHoto / Osman Orsal

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader and presidential hopeful Selahattin Demirtaş criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for engaging in sectarianism in Turkey during a rally in Kadıköy Aug. 3, adding that people wanted a president who united the country, not discriminated against segments of it.

Demirtaş also said the best choice against Erdoğan would be him in the second round, calling on his supporters to vote for him. The first round of the presidential elections will be held on Aug. 10 across Turkey; a second round will be held Aug. 24 if no candidate receives 50 percent plus one of the vote.

The candidate said those conducting opinion polls were deliberately reporting his figures as lower than his real support level, adding that Erdoğan was also attacking the HDP out of “fear of the new life on offer.”

The HDP leader advised the supporters of Erdoğan and Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu to question whether voting for the two candidates would also mean their victory, adding that one candidate, himself, represented them and had the same wealth as an ordinary citizen.

The HDP leader also called on the prime minister to stop all military agreements with Israel instead of verbally slamming the country over its attacks on Gaza.