CHP appeals to voters of all parties for local polls, including HDP, says party leader

ANKARA

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has called on voters of all political parties to support it in the local elections, party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said on Feb. 1 when asked about cooperation with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) regarding Turkey’s most populous provinces Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir.

“There is no alliance, but cooperation in this election. We cooperate with İYİ [Good] Party. We have contacts with Saadet [Felicity] Party. Therefore we will make an alliance at the ballot boxes. We call on citizens, who have earlier voted either for the ruling Justice and Development Party [AKP], HDP, Nationalist Movement Party [MHP] or other parties, ‘come and vote for the CHP in the local elections.’ Because we will well govern the cities,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in a televised interview.

His remarks came after a question on whether the CHP needed the support of Kurdish voters in Ankara and Istanbul.

The CHP had carried out work with İYİ Party on the process of nominating candidates and had contacts with the Felicity Party as well, he said. Asked if the CHP had such a work with the HDP, Kılıçdaroğlu replied “No.” Kılıçdaroğlu noted that his party is determined to win particularly in Ankara, İzmir, Istanbul, Adana, Mersin and Bursa provinces.

The HDP announced on Jan. 28 it will not nominate mayoral candidates for seven major municipalities, including Istanbul, İzmir and Ankara, in Turkey’s March 31 local elections. HDP spokesman Saruhan Oluç said the party would not nominate candidates for Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adana and Mersin. “We are not doing this on behalf of this or that party. We are doing this for the struggle for democracy,” Oluç said.