Turkey's pro-Kurdish party, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), has emerged as a key player in the country's upcoming elections, potentially tipping the balance against long-time ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The HDP announced last month that it will not put forward its own presidential candidate, allowing supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP). This move is seen as a strategic ploy to boost Kilicdaroglu's chances without directly backing him.
The HDP has long been a thorn in the side of Erdogan, who has cracked down on the party after it began chipping away at his voter base. The party faces possible closure by court for suspected collusion with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and affiliated groups.
Despite this, the HDP's influence is undeniable, particularly among the Kurdish population, which makes up between 15% to 20% of Turkey's population. The party's threat to Erdogan's hold on power has been apparent since the June 2015 election, when it won 13% of the seats, denying the ruling AK Party its majority for the first time since 2002.
The HDP's decision not to field a candidate may be seen as a way to avoid exacerbating tensions with the government while still leveraging its influence to shape the election outcome. The party's deputy co-chair, Hisyar Ozsoy, says that the move was "a carefully crafted political discourse" aimed at fulfilling the party's historical responsibility and avoiding a "contaminated political climate."
Analysts say that the HDP is in a delicate situation, knowing it may be banned at any moment due to accusations of ties with the PKK. However, this has also given the party an unexpected advantage, as many Kurdish voters have recently left Erdogan's camp.
The HDP's position as a kingmaker in Turkey's politics means its support or opposition could tip the balance against or for Kilicdaroglu. While the party hasn't yet announced whether it will endorse Kilicdaroglu, analysts say that its deliberate distance may be beneficial for the opposition candidate.
As Iran continues to grapple with the challenges of its mandatory hijab law and growing unrest, a recent meme on Iranian state news outlet IRNA suggests the demise of the US dollar is being gloated over. The post shows two men representing China and Brazil posing in front of a grave labeled "USD."
Meanwhile, in Iraq, Christians have come together to celebrate Palm Sunday at the St. Elijah church in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region.
The HDP announced last month that it will not put forward its own presidential candidate, allowing supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP). This move is seen as a strategic ploy to boost Kilicdaroglu's chances without directly backing him.
The HDP has long been a thorn in the side of Erdogan, who has cracked down on the party after it began chipping away at his voter base. The party faces possible closure by court for suspected collusion with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and affiliated groups.
Despite this, the HDP's influence is undeniable, particularly among the Kurdish population, which makes up between 15% to 20% of Turkey's population. The party's threat to Erdogan's hold on power has been apparent since the June 2015 election, when it won 13% of the seats, denying the ruling AK Party its majority for the first time since 2002.
The HDP's decision not to field a candidate may be seen as a way to avoid exacerbating tensions with the government while still leveraging its influence to shape the election outcome. The party's deputy co-chair, Hisyar Ozsoy, says that the move was "a carefully crafted political discourse" aimed at fulfilling the party's historical responsibility and avoiding a "contaminated political climate."
Analysts say that the HDP is in a delicate situation, knowing it may be banned at any moment due to accusations of ties with the PKK. However, this has also given the party an unexpected advantage, as many Kurdish voters have recently left Erdogan's camp.
The HDP's position as a kingmaker in Turkey's politics means its support or opposition could tip the balance against or for Kilicdaroglu. While the party hasn't yet announced whether it will endorse Kilicdaroglu, analysts say that its deliberate distance may be beneficial for the opposition candidate.
As Iran continues to grapple with the challenges of its mandatory hijab law and growing unrest, a recent meme on Iranian state news outlet IRNA suggests the demise of the US dollar is being gloated over. The post shows two men representing China and Brazil posing in front of a grave labeled "USD."
Meanwhile, in Iraq, Christians have come together to celebrate Palm Sunday at the St. Elijah church in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region.
. I mean, by not running a candidate themselves, they're basically saying "hey, we trust Kilicdaroglu" and that could be a game-changer in this election.
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. Either way, it's got me thinking about global politics and how currency manipulation can be a powerful tool in the right hands.
. It'll be fascinating to see how this election plays out!
Erdogan's been ruling for ages and the ppl are like "enough" 
The HDP's move is pure genius, they're basically giving Kilicdaroglu a free pass without directly backing him 
it's all about playing the long game and keeping the gov off their backs 
and Iraq's Christians are low-key living their best lives 
i mean, it's crazy how much influence they have, especially among the kurdish population 
but at the same time, they don't wanna get themselves banned 
by court for suspected ties with the PKK that's a tricky situation 
. And honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see the HDP being strategic about their approach - no hard feelings towards them this time around 
. The real question is how long can the HDP keep its momentum going before things get really hairy for them... only time will tell 
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