HDP open to joint presidential candidate if not excluded from opposition talks: group deputy chair

HDP parliamentary group deputy chair Saruhan Oluç said that they are open to joining the elections with a joint presidential candidate if not excluded from the talks of the Table of Six. His remarks came after HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan’s announcement that they will join the presidential elections with their own candidate.

Duvar English

Opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) parliamentary group deputy chair Saruhan Oluç said on Jan. 7 that they are open to having a joint presidential candidate if not excluded from talks of the Table of Six.

“We said (to the opposition) that we wanted to discuss some issues (for the candidacy). If we will not be included in these talks, we have a minimum of 12-13% votes, we will nominate our own candidate. Of course, we would like to talk (with the opposition) for a joint candidate,” Oluç said during the live Tele1 program.

Oluç’s remarks came after HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan announced on Jan. 6 that they will field their own candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for June.

“Table of Six” is the name of alliance of the six opposition parties that are united to change Turkey’s presidential regime to “strengthened parliamentary system”, consisting the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), center-right İYİ (Good) Party, Islamist Felicity (Saadet) Party, Democrat Party (DP), DEVA (Democracy and Progress) Party and Future (Gelecek) Party. The HDP is excluded from this alliance. 

In their latest meeting that was held on Jan. 5, six leaders announced that they would start discussing who will be their joint presidential candidate for the upcoming elections against Erdoğan.