Turkey's pro-Kurdish party, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), is emerging as a key player in the country's upcoming election, potentially tipping the balance against two-decade ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The HDP has announced it will not field its own presidential candidate, allowing supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
The decision allows the HDP to maintain a level of influence without alienating its base, and analysts say it could be a turning point in Turkey's politics. The HDP's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years on charges related to his party's ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but the party remains influential.
The HDP's position is precarious, as it faces a case before Turkey's Constitutional Court over suspected ties to the PKK. The party is also in a delicate situation, knowing that its influence could determine the outcome of next month's vote.
Analysts say the HDP's decision not to field a candidate allows its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who represents the six-party Nation Alliance opposition bloc. The HDP has been accused of being pro-PKK by the Turkish government, but analysts say this is an attempt to discredit it.
The HDP was founded in 2012 with aims including peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict. The party's influence may be a key factor in Turkey's politics, particularly as Kurds make up between 15% and 20% of the population.
Iran has blamed Israel for the killing of two IRGC officers, vowing to respond. The incident occurred near Damascus, where Iranian forces have been involved in Syria since the civil war began over a decade ago.
China and Brazil have reached an agreement to ditch the US dollar as an intermediary in trade, according to Chinese state news outlet China Daily. This move is seen as a challenge to the dominance of the US dollar, which has been used widely as a reserve currency.
The Iranian government is gloating about the potential demise of the US dollar, with officials creating memes and jokes on social media about the decline of the currency. However, this is likely an overreaction, as the US dollar remains widely used and accepted as a form of payment around the world.
The decision allows the HDP to maintain a level of influence without alienating its base, and analysts say it could be a turning point in Turkey's politics. The HDP's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years on charges related to his party's ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but the party remains influential.
The HDP's position is precarious, as it faces a case before Turkey's Constitutional Court over suspected ties to the PKK. The party is also in a delicate situation, knowing that its influence could determine the outcome of next month's vote.
Analysts say the HDP's decision not to field a candidate allows its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who represents the six-party Nation Alliance opposition bloc. The HDP has been accused of being pro-PKK by the Turkish government, but analysts say this is an attempt to discredit it.
The HDP was founded in 2012 with aims including peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict. The party's influence may be a key factor in Turkey's politics, particularly as Kurds make up between 15% and 20% of the population.
Iran has blamed Israel for the killing of two IRGC officers, vowing to respond. The incident occurred near Damascus, where Iranian forces have been involved in Syria since the civil war began over a decade ago.
China and Brazil have reached an agreement to ditch the US dollar as an intermediary in trade, according to Chinese state news outlet China Daily. This move is seen as a challenge to the dominance of the US dollar, which has been used widely as a reserve currency.
The Iranian government is gloating about the potential demise of the US dollar, with officials creating memes and jokes on social media about the decline of the currency. However, this is likely an overreaction, as the US dollar remains widely used and accepted as a form of payment around the world.