HDP denies claims it will boycott constitutional referendum

ISTANBUL

The Kurdish-issue focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has denied claims that it will boycott Turkey’s upcoming constitutional referendum. 

HDP deputy Filiz Kerestecioğlu on Feb. 13 vowed that the HDP would not boycott the referendum and would vote “no” in every poll. 

“Some speculations have been made regarding the HDP in the referendum process. But our voters will go to every polling station and will say no,” she said.

Kerestecioğlu also slammed recent comments from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about “no” voters taking sides with the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

“President Erdoğan has denounced people who have devoted their lives to fighting against coups as ‘terrorists.’ According to Erdoğan, anyone who votes ‘no’ or does not support the government is a supporter of the Gülen movement or they has not understood the constitutional change. Why have they started accusing people like this? Because they have seen that people are saying ‘no’ in opinion polls,” she said.  

The HDP has also issued a statement, saying that conducting the referendum without the HDP is “political immorality,” amid continued detentions and arrests of its members and deputies.

The Central Executive Board of the HDP said in the statement that a total of 318 people had been detained including executives, provincial chairs, district chairs, and party members in Istanbul, İzmir, Van, Adana, Adıyaman, Kocaeli, Antep, Siirt, Bingöl, Malatya, Bursa and Ağrı provinces.

It described detentions and operations against the HDP as an attempt to conduct the referendum without the HDP.

“The HDP is going to continue its struggle decisively, as a part of the promise it has given to Turkey’s people. We will campaign for ‘no’ despite all obstructions and pressure,” said in the statement.