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

Turkey's pro-Kurdish party is emerging as a kingmaker in the country's upcoming election, potentially tipping the balance against long-ruling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which has been targeted by the government for its Kurdish roots, announced last month that it would not field its own presidential candidate, a move analysts say could give its supporters an alternative to Erdogan's main rival.

The HDP's decision comes after a decade of crackdowns on the party by the Erdogan government, with former leader Selahattin Demirtas still in prison. The party's influence is seen as key to determining the course of Turkey's politics, particularly among Kurdish voters who have traditionally supported the AK Party, Erdogan's main party.

Analysts say the HDP's decision not to field a candidate allows its supporters to vote for Erdogan's rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, from the Republican People's Party (CHP). However, it remains unclear whether the HDP will endorse Kilicdaroglu, which could be beneficial for him in the elections.

The HDP is facing a precarious position during the elections, with accusations against the party placing it at risk of closure by a court. The Turkish government has tried to link the HDP to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but has so far failed to prove any real connection.

A post-Erdogan Turkey may give some breathing space to the Kurds and Kurdish-dominated parties, with many Kurdish voters having recently left Erdogan's camp. For the HDP, however, this is more than just an ideological choice – it's a matter of survival.

The party's deputy co-chair, Hisyar Ozsoy, says that his party understands what's at stake and will play the game "wisely" in the elections. The HDP has also stated its commitment to a peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict, which has been a cornerstone of the party's platform since its founding in 2012.

As the Turkish general election approaches, the fate of Erdogan's long-reign hangs in the balance. Will the HDP's decision be enough to upset the status quo, or will the AK Party maintain its grip on power? One thing is certain – the outcome of the elections will have far-reaching implications for Turkey and its Kurdish minority.

I think it's kinda crazy that Erdogan's been in power for so long he's basically become a one-party dictator, and it's time for change The HDP's decision to not field their own candidate is a smart move, but I'm curious to see how they'll play the game during the elections. Will they endorse Kilicdaroglu or stick to their guns? Either way, it's gonna be interesting to watch and see if the Kurds finally get some breathing space The Turkish government's been cracking down on Kurdish parties for ages, so hopefully this is a sign of better things to come

I'm kinda thinking that if the pro-Kurdish party comes out strong, it might actually be good for Turkey in the long run . I mean, Erdogan's been in power for ages and things have gotten pretty tense with the Kurds. If they can find a way to make this work without all the drama, maybe we'll see some positive change . The HDP is definitely taking a risk by not fielding their own candidate, but it's clear they're trying to play it smart . We should be watching this election closely, not just for Turkey's future, but for what it might mean for the Kurds and the region as a whole . Fingers crossed that things will get better for everyone involved .

I'm so sorry I missed this thread, it was just that crazy week . Anyway, I think the HDP's decision not to field a candidate is super smart, tbh. It shows they're not going all in on Erdogan's rival, which could actually work to their advantage. But at the same time, it's also a huge risk for them, considering the court closures and government pressure .

I'm curious to see how this plays out, especially if they do endorse Kilicdaroglu. Could be a game-changer for him in the elections, but also kinda undermines their own platform. What's your take on it? Should the HDP just go all in or play it safe?

man... can you believe what's happening with turkey? Erdogan's been in power for ages and now it looks like he might finally be losing control . The people's democratic party is basically holding all the cards here, and if they don't get hurt in the elections, that could spell disaster for erdogan. but at the same time, the hdp's decision not to field a candidate themselves is kinda genius - it gives their supporters an easy out if they want to vote against erdogan, but also means the akp has got a decent chance of winning too. it's all so complicated . one thing's for sure though, turkey's future is looking more and more uncertain by the day .

Ugh man i'm so tired of these Turkish politics this HDP party thingy is getting so complicated. Can't they just decide already? Erdogan's been in power for ages but now it seems like the HDP has a say. The thing is, I don't really get why they're not fielding their own candidate. Like, aren't they worried about losing seats or something?

And then there's this whole thing with Kemal Kilicdaroglu... who knows what's going on there? One minute he's gonna be all good to the HDP and the next he's like "nah I'm good". Anyway, I guess it's kinda cool that the Kurds might finally get some breathing space after all these years. It'd be a huge win for them.

But honestly, can we please just have one simple election without all these twists and turns? My head is gonna hurt if they keep switching back and forth like this...

omg can u believe the HDP's not even gonna run a candidate it's like they're saying "hey Erdogan, we'll just let you win this round" but honestly who knows what's gonna happen? maybe kilicdaroglu will get all the votes and take down erdogan lol just kidding kinda anyway, this is serious stuff and i hope the HDP can navigate it without getting shut down a post-erdogan turkey would be awesome for the Kurds, but we'll have to wait and see how this all plays out

I'm trying to understand how this all works... like what if the HDP doesn't endorse Kilicdaroglu? Will that help or hurt him in the election? And I don't get why the government is still trying to link the HDP to the PKK after all these years... seems kinda pointless.

I'm also curious about the Kurdish voters who left Erdogan's camp... are they voting for the HDP now because of this decision or what? It sounds like a big deal, but it might just be a strategic move by the HDP to stay alive.

It would be interesting to see how the other parties are going to play this. Is the CHP really in this to help the HDP or is it just trying to gain some ground themselves? The Turkish general election is definitely going to be a wild ride...

I'm thinking that this is such a big deal in turkey right now . The HDP's decision not to field a candidate might just be what's needed to shake things up in the election. It's like, Erdogan has been in power for so long, and people are getting tired of him . If the HDP's supporters can vote for someone else instead, it could give Kemal Kilicdaroglu a leg up. But at the same time, the HDP is in a pretty precarious spot themselves - they're being accused of all sorts of things and there's even talk of them getting closed down . It's crazy to think about how much this election could change the dynamics in turkey and what it means for the kurdish minority. I'm keeping an eye on this one

omg u guys!! so like turkish politics r super complicated rn but basically the pro-kurdish ppl party (hdp) just announced they wont run a presidential cand, which could be huge 4 Erdogan's rivals . it's like they're giving their supporters another option tho idk if this will b enough to change things up or not lol.

anywayz i think this is kinda interesting cuz it means the Kurds might get more of a say in turkeys future (fingers crossed) . and omg dont even get me started on the Erdogan gov being super aggressive towards the hdp its like they're trying to silence them or watever .

anyway i guess we'll just have to wait & see how it all plays out in the elections . but one thing is 4 sure - turkeys future is about 2 get messy

[Image of a scale tipping towards one side, with a "Kurdish vote" label above it]

The HDP's decision not to field a presidential candidate is super smart in my opinion . They're basically giving their supporters an out from Erdogan, you know? Like, if they want to vote for Kemal Kilicdaroglu instead, that's a solid alternative. But at the same time, it's like, what if they don't endorse him? That could be a total game changer . And let's not forget about the whole court thing and the accusations against them... it's all just so unpredictable . The Kurds are kinda stuck in this precarious position where they need to survive but also potentially upset the status quo. It's like, they're walking on thin ice right now . I'm keeping an eye on how things play out, tbh .

idk why the hdp is even doing this tho ... like they're just gonna let erdogan win by default cuz they dont wanna risk their own existence anymore? i mean, what about the kurdish people's interests? isnt that what the hdp is supposed to be fighting for? anyway, kilicdaroglu has a good shot at winning but idc what happens after that... turkey needs some serious shake up

the hdp's decision not to field a candidate is like they're holding their breath right now, it's a huge gamble that could either save them or be their last stand . the turkish gov has been cracking down on them for years and this move shows how desperate they are . if they can get their supporters to vote for kilicdaroglu, that'd be like a backdoor pass to the presidency . but what's gonna happen next? will the hdp endorse kilicdaroglu or keep it under wraps? and what does this mean for kurdistan in turkey? it's all so uncertain

You know, I think this is a really interesting development in Turkish politics . The HDP's decision not to field a candidate might actually be a strategic move that could give them more influence behind the scenes . It's like they're playing chess instead of checkers, you know? They're giving their supporters options and trying to outmaneuver the opposition. Plus, if the AK Party loses its grip on power, it could be a game-changer for the Kurds in Turkey . We might finally see some real progress on that conflict. And let's not forget, this is actually an opportunity for Erdogan's rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, to shine . So, even though the HDP is in a tricky spot, I'm trying to see the silver lining here . Maybe this is exactly what Turkey needs – a fresh start?