HDP’s doors not closed for alliance with CHP

Cansu Çamlıbel ISTANBUL / Hürriyet

Tuncel said her party’s one side is strictly against a possible alliance with the CHP, while another side is “thinking as to” how this could be realized. AA Photo

The People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has its doors open for any prospective alliance in the upcoming local elections with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the HDP’s co-chair Sebahat Tuncel said.

“If our local governance understanding does not match, then it is not easy [to form an alliance with the CHP.] Can we form an alliance if they do not understand the Kurds’ struggle for rights and freedom?” Tuncel told the daily Hürriyet.

Tuncel said her party’s one side is strictly against a possible alliance with the CHP, while another side is “thinking as to” how this could be realized.

“There is not an offer came from the CHP and we do not have a demand to have a meeting on it, but if the CHP offers a meeting, we will evaluate it, but it is important for us it to be open and transparent.

We will not accept a secret meeting, an alliance would not happen in such a way,” Tuncel said ruling out the Ankara whispers that said the Peace and Democracy (BDP) or the newly founded HDP are having secret meetings with the CHP over a prospective alliance.

The alliance issue has become a hot topic in Istanbul, where HDP’s deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder announced his candidacy for his party’s nomination for the Istanbul mayoralty in upcoming local elections while Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül also announced that he will run for the office under the CHP’s umbrella.

Önder, a former Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy, who resigned from the party to join the freshly formed umbrella party HDP, has been in the ascent in the eyes of the public, particularly leftist segments, since the Gezi Park protests.

His public popularity led some politicians and columnists to strongly suggest the formation of an alliance between the CHP and BDP in the western provinces to defeat the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).