Erdogan's political fate may be determined by Turkey's Kurds

Turkey's pro-Kurdish party may be the key to Erdogan's downfall. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has emerged as a powerful player in Turkey's upcoming election, and its decision not to field a presidential candidate could potentially tip the balance against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan's government has long been critical of the HDP, which represents the Kurdish minority in Turkey. The party has been accused of ties to the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but its leaders have consistently denied any such connections.

The HDP's decision not to field a candidate is seen as a strategic move to allow its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Analysts say that the party's influence could determine the outcome of the election, with many Kurdish voters traditionally supporting Erdogan's AK Party.

However, the HDP faces significant challenges, including a crackdown on dissent and allegations of ties to the PKK. The party's former leader, Selahattin Demirtas, is currently in prison, and its headquarters may be closed by court order.

Erdogan has long been wary of the HDP, seeing it as a threat to his power. But the party has become increasingly influential, with many Kurdish voters supporting it due to the AK Party's perceived bias against them.

The HDP's decision not to field a candidate could have significant consequences for Erdogan's hold on power. The party's influence is crucial in the elections, and its supporters are likely to back Kilicdaroglu, who represents the six-party Nation Alliance opposition bloc.

As the HDP navigates this delicate situation, its leaders are aware of the risks involved. "We are facing a turning point that will shape the future of Turkey and (its) society," said the HDP in a statement. "To fulfill our historical responsibility against the one-man rule, we will not field a presidential candidate."

The party's deputy co-chair, Hisyar Ozsoy, told CNN that the decision was made after careful consideration. "We are not going to have our own candidate, and we will leave it to the international community to interpret it the way they wish," he said.

Experts say that the crackdown on the HDP is rooted in the threat it poses to Erdogan's power. The party has been a thorn in his side for years, winning seats in parliament and pushing for Kurdish rights.

But despite the challenges, the HDP remains a key player in Turkish politics. Its influence could be crucial in determining the outcome of the election, with many Kurds supporting the party due to its commitment to Kurdish rights and democracy.

As the election approaches, Erdogan's government is likely to remain vigilant, but the HDP's decision not to field a candidate may have significant consequences for his hold on power. The party's influence could be the difference between victory and defeat for Erdogan, and its supporters are likely to back Kilicdaroglu with gusto.

This is so interesting... if the HDP isn't running a candidate, it's gonna be super weird watching Erdogan try to win without their big Kurdish vote . I mean, he's been trying to crack down on them for years, but this might just backfire in his face . The Nation Alliance opposition bloc is looking strong with Kilicdaroglu at the helm, and if the HDP's supporters are all behind him, that could be a major problem for Erdogan . Can't wait to see how this all plays out!

I've been reading about this Turkey election thingy and I'm kinda surprised that the pro-Kurdish party isn't getting more attention . Like, they're not even fielding a candidate? It's like, their supporters are just gonna vote for Erdogan's rival or something? And what's up with all these allegations of ties to the PKK? Doesn't anyone trust the party anymore? It seems to me that the HDP is kinda caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, they gotta deal with the government's crackdown on dissent. On the other hand, if they don't field a candidate, it could be seen as a cop-out. I'm just curious to see how this all plays out

this whole thing is like, if you're going to take down erdogan, you gotta go through the HDP first ... idk how they manage to stay so relevant in a system that's clearly designed to crush them... some ppl say its cuz of kurds supporting kilicdaroglu, but i think its more complex than that - like, what happens when the party that's all about fighting for democracy and human rights ends up being seen as the only hope against erdogan? it's a risk, but if they can make it work, erdogan might actually be in trouble... we'll just have to wait and see how this whole thing plays out

this election is gonna be so crazy... like what if the HDP wins? would be a game changer for turkey... Erdogan has been in power for so long it's hard to imagine anyone else... but what if kilicdaroglu can really deliver on his promises? his chances of winning are looking better and better with the hdp's support but we have to remember the history between erdogan and the kurdish minority... there's so much tension and mistrust that it's gonna be hard for the hdp to make a real difference still, i'm rooting for them they deserve a chance to show Erdogan what they're made of

omg i'm literally shaking thinking about this... the HDPs decision not to field a candidate is like a masterstroke it means that all those Kurdish voters who have been disillusioned with Erdogan's AK party can finally have a say in the election and vote for someone who actually cares about their rights and future

i mean, come on Erdogan has been trying to crack down on dissent and silence the HDP for years but he can't even touch this one it's like they're playing a game of chess and the stakes are turkey's democracy itself

and kilicdaroglu is like the perfect pawn in this game all those Kurdish voters who have been ignored or oppressed by erdogan can finally see their dreams come true with him as president

the HDPs influence is not to be underestimated either they're not just some fringe party, they're a major player in turkish politics and if they can mobilize all those Kurdish voters behind kilicdaroglu then erdogan's chances of re-election are basically gone

I think the HDP's decision not to field a presidential candidate is actually gonna help Erdogan more than hurt him lol ... like, what's next? Erdogan's gonna win the election and suddenly remember he cares about Kurdish rights? give me a break... i think Kilicdaroglu's got this, but only because Erdogan's party is so corrupt it'll probably tank on its own

```
+-----------------------+
| Erdogan's power game |
+-----------------------+
|
|
v
+-----------------------+ +-----------------------+
| HDP's strategic move | | Erdogan's main rival |
+-----------------------+ +-----------------------+
| |
| Kilicdaroglu |
| (6-party Nation Alliance) |
v v
+-----------------------+ +-----------------------+
| Kurdish voters' support | | Erdogan's votes |
+-----------------------+ +-----------------------+
|
|
v
+-----------------------+
| Erdogan's downfall? |
+-----------------------+

```

Erdogan is in a tough spot and the HDP's decision not to field a candidate could be the turning point he was trying to avoid. I think this shows that the HDP is getting bolder, but at the same time, they know it's a risk. The Turkish people are going to decide Erdogan's fate, and if Kilicdaroglu can tap into the Kurdish community's support, it could be game over for him

I'm not convinced about the HDP's intentions . Their decision not to field a candidate might just be a PR stunt to gain more sympathy from international community . It's all about manipulating public opinion, if you ask me . Where are the concrete facts and sources? Why should we trust their 'strategic move' without knowing the real motive behind it?

I'm low-key impressed that the HDP isn't playing along with the usual game . Not fielding a presidential candidate is a big risk, but I guess it's better than being seen as a puppet for Erdogan . It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the election, especially if Kemal Kilicdaroglu's party picks up steam . The HDP's been through so much already, from Selahattin Demirtas' prison sentence to their HQ possibly getting shut down . I just hope they can navigate this without getting bullied by Erdogan's goons

I'm kinda surprised that the HDP is playing it cool like this... I mean, Erdogan has been a major thorn in their side for years, but they're choosing not to take the bait by fielding their own candidate. That's gotta be a strategic move to let Kemal Kilicdaroglu have a shot at the presidency. It's also interesting that the HDP is trying to distance themselves from Erdogan's AK Party, which has been accused of being biased against Kurdish voters. Whatever happens, it's clear that the HDP is not going down without a fight

I'm still skeptical about the whole thing . If the HDP isn't fielding a candidate, that just means they're letting someone else take their votes, right? It's all about shifting power from one person to another... I mean, what's wrong with having real candidates who can represent the people? Erdogan's got a lot of experience on his side, and he knows how to get things done. But at what cost? The HDP is saying they won't field a candidate because they don't want to be seen as supporting him... but aren't they just playing into his hands?

And let's not forget about the alleged ties to the PKK . That's some serious red flag stuff right there. How can we trust that the HDP isn't being manipulated by external forces? The whole thing feels like a game of chess, with Erdogan pulling all the strings... I just don't think it's going to end well .

The Nation Alliance opposition bloc is supposed to be the big deal now , but let's not forget that Kilicdaroglu has his own set of baggage. How can we trust him? The HDP's decision to sit this one out might actually work against Erdogan in the long run... or it could be a clever move to take down his main rival . One thing's for sure, I'm keeping an eye on this situation .

the hdp's move is crazy it's like they're saying "screw our own chances" just to help out Kemal kilicdaroglu lol what's up with that? don't get me wrong, i think erdogan's been super harsh on the kurdish minority and all, but this is a bit extreme. if the hdp really wants to take down erdogan, they should've fielded their own candidate or something still gotta be interesting to see how this all plays out though

The HDP's decision not to field a presidential candidate is like, super strategic, you know? It's like they're playing both sides, which can be kinda smart if it works out in their favor . Erdogan's been all over the map when it comes to the HDP, and now this could be his downfall . The fact that many Kurdish voters traditionally support Erdogan but are getting swayed by Kilicdaroglu is wild . I mean, we've seen how Erdogan's government has cracked down on dissent in the past, so it'll be interesting to see if they try to suppress HDP supporters now .

I'm low-key impressed by the HDP's strategic move ! Not fielding a candidate might seem like an odd choice, but it shows they're thinking ahead . I mean, if their supporters vote for Erdogan's rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, that's gotta be a win for the opposition bloc . Of course, the HDP has some major hurdles to jump over, what with the crackdowns and alleged ties to the PKK ... but it's still a bold move that could change the game . I'm curious to see how Erdogan's team responds - will they try to silence them even more or just wait for the election to pass? Either way, this is shaping up to be an epic battle for Turkey's future

I think the HDP's decision to not field a candidate is actually gonna boost Erdogan's chances . I mean, if they're not putting up a serious contender, why would anyone vote for them? It's like they're giving him a free pass . And let's be real, the AK Party has been doing a pretty good job of representing Kurdish interests, so it's unlikely that Kurdish voters are gonna flock to Kilicdaroglu just because the HDP isn't on the ballot .

I don’t usually comment but I think this is kinda interesting . If the HDP doesn't field a candidate, it could actually hurt Erdogan’s chances more than help them . The AK Party has always been biased against Kurds and the HDP's support is crucial for that group. But if Kilicdaroglu wins, would that really be an improvement? I don’t know, but I think it's a super complex situation with so many variables. Erdogan’s got some serious skeletons in his closet and the HDP is trying to take advantage of that. But for who, exactly? The Turkish people? Or just their own interests?

OMG u guys think this is gonna b the end of erdogan?? i mean the ppl democratic party (hdp) just didnt wanna run a pres candidate 4 turkey but instead let their peeps vote 4 kemal kilicdaroglu nnow analysts say if they pull it off they might tip the balance 2 against erdogan its gonna b interesting 2 see how dis plays out

I'm seeing this as a perfect example of how the HDP's strategic move could actually work in their favour . Not fielding a candidate is a bold move, but if it means their supporters turn out in droves for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, that's gotta be good news for the opposition . The fact that many Kurdish voters traditionally support Erdogan's AK Party shows how divided they are, and if the HDP can bring them together behind Kilicdaroglu, it could be a game-changer . Of course, there are risks involved, like the crackdown on dissent, but I think this move is a win-win for the people of Turkey .

I think this is a super interesting development in Turkish politics . The HDP's decision not to field a candidate could definitely shake things up and potentially tip the balance against Erdogan . I mean, if many Kurdish voters who normally support Erdogan start backing Kilicdaroglu instead, that's gotta be a problem for him . The thing is, the HDP has been under so much pressure from Erdogan's gov't, it's amazing they're still standing strong . Their commitment to Kurdish rights and democracy is really admirable . But at the same time, I'm curious to see how this plays out on election day . Will Erdogan's gov't be able to withstand the HDP's influence? Only time will tell .