Syriza invites HDP co-chair Demirtaş to Greece

ATHENS

Syriza, the main partner in Greece’s government, has invited Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş to its 2nd party congress in Athens, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Demirtaş, the co-chair of Turkey’s Kurdish issue-focused HDP, will also reportedly give a speech at the opening of the congress, which will continue until Oct. 16. 

The congress will open with a speech by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, during which he will speak of efforts to resolve the country’s economic crisis and the future of Syriza, three years after its first congress.

The secretary of Syriza’s Central Board Panos Rigas, Party of the European Left head Pierre Laurent, and Cypriot Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) head Andros Kiprianu will also speak at the congress.

Tsipras had held talks with the leaders of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the HDP after Turkey’s Nov. 1 election.

At the time he had expressed appreciation for the HDP’s politics during the meeting, saying “we are watching your struggle with admiration.” 

Tsipras also congratulated HDP officials on behalf of his Syriza party for passing the election threshold and marking it into parliament in the election.