Turkey's Kurdish minority may hold the key to Erdogan's downfall. The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has emerged as a crucial player in the country's upcoming election, potentially tipping the balance against two-decade ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The HDP's decision not to field its own presidential candidate allows its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Analysts say this move gives the HDP significant influence over the outcome of the elections.
For years, Erdogan has cracked down on the HDP, which has won 13% of seats in general elections and denied the ruling AK Party its majority since 2002. The party's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years.
Despite this, the HDP remains a key player in Turkish politics, with many Kurdish voters traditionally supporting Erdogan's AK Party. However, some Kurdish voters have recently switched to opposing him.
The HDP knows its position is crucial to the outcome of next month's vote but finds itself in a delicate situation. The party wants to play the game wisely and avoid a "contaminated political climate" where elections are polarized between Erdogan's supporters and opponents.
"We want to play the game wisely, and we need to be very careful," said deputy co-chair Hisyar Ozsoy of the HDP. "We will not field a presidential candidate, and we will leave it to the international community to interpret it the way they wish."
The HDP's stance is rooted in its goal of achieving peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict.
The Turkish government has been trying to link the HDP to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US, and the EU. However, so far, it has failed to prove "a real connection."
A post-Erdogan Turkey may give some breathing space to the Kurds and Kurdish-dominated parties in Turkey, according to analysts.
"The HDP understands what's at stake – not only for Turkey's Kurds but for all its minorities," said Ozsoy. "We are aware of our responsibility here. We are aware of our role. We know we are in a kingmaker position."
The HDP's decision may be seen as an opportunity for Erdogan's opponents to unite behind Kilicdaroglu, who has been critical of the HDP and its ties to Kurdish nationalists.
The international community has watched with interest as the conflict between Turkey and the HDP continues to escalate. The US, in particular, has taken a nuanced approach, condemning human rights abuses by Turkish authorities while also calling for restraint from Kurdish militant groups.
As the Turkish government cracks down on dissenting voices, the HDP stands out as one of the few remaining institutions that represents the interests of Turkey's Kurdish minority.
The fate of the HDP and its influence in Turkish politics may ultimately determine whether Erdogan remains in power or loses his grip on the country.
The HDP's decision not to field its own presidential candidate allows its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Analysts say this move gives the HDP significant influence over the outcome of the elections.
For years, Erdogan has cracked down on the HDP, which has won 13% of seats in general elections and denied the ruling AK Party its majority since 2002. The party's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years.
Despite this, the HDP remains a key player in Turkish politics, with many Kurdish voters traditionally supporting Erdogan's AK Party. However, some Kurdish voters have recently switched to opposing him.
The HDP knows its position is crucial to the outcome of next month's vote but finds itself in a delicate situation. The party wants to play the game wisely and avoid a "contaminated political climate" where elections are polarized between Erdogan's supporters and opponents.
"We want to play the game wisely, and we need to be very careful," said deputy co-chair Hisyar Ozsoy of the HDP. "We will not field a presidential candidate, and we will leave it to the international community to interpret it the way they wish."
The HDP's stance is rooted in its goal of achieving peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict.
The Turkish government has been trying to link the HDP to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US, and the EU. However, so far, it has failed to prove "a real connection."
A post-Erdogan Turkey may give some breathing space to the Kurds and Kurdish-dominated parties in Turkey, according to analysts.
"The HDP understands what's at stake – not only for Turkey's Kurds but for all its minorities," said Ozsoy. "We are aware of our responsibility here. We are aware of our role. We know we are in a kingmaker position."
The HDP's decision may be seen as an opportunity for Erdogan's opponents to unite behind Kilicdaroglu, who has been critical of the HDP and its ties to Kurdish nationalists.
The international community has watched with interest as the conflict between Turkey and the HDP continues to escalate. The US, in particular, has taken a nuanced approach, condemning human rights abuses by Turkish authorities while also calling for restraint from Kurdish militant groups.
As the Turkish government cracks down on dissenting voices, the HDP stands out as one of the few remaining institutions that represents the interests of Turkey's Kurdish minority.
The fate of the HDP and its influence in Turkish politics may ultimately determine whether Erdogan remains in power or loses his grip on the country.
. The HDP's decision not to field a presidential candidate, it seems like a clever move by Erdogan's opponents, but what if it's actually Erdogan himself playing a long game? 
Like, think about it, the HDP is basically giving Kemal Kilicdaroglu their support, which means whoever wins, it's still gonna be a pro-Erdogan government in disguise. And what about the international community's involvement? Are they just being naive or is there something more to it? 
The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that there's some kinda hidden agenda at play here...
. I mean, think about it, for years Erdogan has been cracking down on the HDP and it still manages to stay relevant? It's like he's trying to suffocate them into oblivion, but instead, it's given the party an air of martyrdom 
. And now, with Erdogan's main rival having a chance to win, I'm not holding my breath 
. The HDP's decision not to field its own candidate is smart, I suppose – it allows them to maintain their influence without being directly linked to the outcome. But let's be real, this whole thing feels like a chess match 
, and the HDP is just trying to stay one step ahead of Erdogan's game 
. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out in the end 
And then he became president and they were all like "wow we're good". Same vibe with the HDP, seems like they're playing a big role in this election and might just save Turkey from Erdogan's rule 
!