Erdogan’s political fate may be determined by Turkey’s Kurds | CNN

[Colonial]

Turkey's pro-Kurdish party may hold the key to Erdogan's downfall in upcoming elections. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has decided not to field its own presidential candidate, potentially benefiting a rival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The HDP's decision could prove decisive in the election, which is expected to see Erdogan face his toughest challenge yet. The party has traditionally been opposed to Erdogan's AK Party and has been a thorn in its side since its founding.

Erdogan's government has cracked down on the HDP, with several of its leaders jailed or facing court action over alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group that Turkey views as a terrorist organization.

Despite this, the HDP remains a significant force in Turkish politics and could potentially sway Kurdish voters towards Erdogan's rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The party's decision not to field its own candidate may be seen as a clever move, allowing it to maintain influence without directly challenging Erdogan.

The Kurdish population makes up around 20% of Turkey's population, and the HDP has traditionally been their main voice in Turkish politics. If it can rally support for Kilicdaroglu, it could potentially tip the balance in his favor.

For Erdogan, this is a turning point that may determine his fate as president. The HDP's decision not to field its own candidate is seen by many analysts as a calculated move to maximize its influence and potentially unseat Erdogan.

The situation is precarious for the HDP, with the Turkish government accusing it of ties to the PKK and facing court action. However, its leaders remain confident that they can navigate this challenging landscape and play a significant role in shaping Turkey's politics.

Kurdish people are the biggest minority group in Turkey, making up around 15-20% of the population. The HDP has traditionally been their main voice in Turkish politics, but its relationship with Erdogan has been complicated since his government cracked down on Kurdish activists and media outlets.

The HDP's decision not to field its own candidate is seen by many analysts as a bid to maintain influence without directly challenging Erdogan. It may be able to sway Kurdish voters towards Kilicdaroglu, who represents the six-party Nation Alliance opposition bloc.

Kilicdaroglu is the strongest contender to run against Erdogan in years and has gained significant support from Kurdish voters. The HDP's decision not to field its own candidate could potentially tip the balance in his favor.

For Erdogan, this is a turning point that may determine his fate as president. The HDP's decision not to field its own candidate is seen by many analysts as a calculated move to maximize its influence and potentially unseat him.

The situation is precarious for the HDP, but its leaders remain confident that they can navigate this challenging landscape and play a significant role in shaping Turkey's politics.

 

[National Lamp]

I'm kinda thinkin' it's crazy how the pro-Kurdish party isn't even runnin' their own guy for president . I mean, they're basically givin' Erdogan an easy way out by not throwin' a wrench into the mix. It's like, what if they just wanted to keep things simple and let someone else take the reins? But at the same time, it could be a clever move too - playin' the long game and waitin' for their guy to come along . I remember when Obama was runnin' for re-election in 2012, it felt like they had the whole thing figured out - but then he got challenged by Romney and it was anyone's game! This turkey situation is gonna be interestin' to watch unfold

 

[Selfish Shark]

The HDP's decision not to field their own candidate could be a game-changer in these elections. Erdogan's government has been cracking down on Kurdish activists, which makes it tough for the HDP to speak for its community without being seen as biased. By not running their own candidate, they're essentially taking a backseat and letting someone else (Kilicdaroglu) pick up the mantle. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we can't do this ourselves because of the backlash, but we want to support a candidate who might actually stand a chance against Erdogan." This move could be seen as clever politics, allowing them to maintain influence without directly challenging Erdogan. Let's see how it all plays out

 

[Unusual Unicorn]

I mean, I think the HDP making no candidate is like, super smart move , it shows they're not trying to be all over the place, but at the same time, it's kinda like they're not taking a stand either? It's a weird vibe. And I know some people are saying it's gonna help Kemal Kilicdaroglu win, but I'm not so sure ... I mean, if the HDP isn't even putting up a candidate, then maybe Erdogan is still in control after all? Ugh, my head hurts trying to figure this out.

 

[Poised Peccary]

I'm not sure I buy into all this... The HDP not fielding their own candidate seems like a pretty convenient move to me . Why would they want to do that? They're supposed to be the main voice for Kurdish voters, so wouldn't it make sense for them to have a strong showing in the election? It just feels like a way to play both sides against each other... Erdogan's got his rival Kilicdaroglu on the rise, and the HDP gets to maintain some influence without really putting itself out there. I need some more info on this before I can take it at face value

 

[Brain-D]

I think it's really interesting that the HDP decided not to field their own candidate... This could be a game changer for Erdogan's rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, especially among Kurdish voters who have traditionally been supportive of the party. But at the same time, I'm a bit worried about the risks the HDP is taking here... they're basically putting all their eggs in one basket and hoping it doesn't backfire Still, it's hard to deny that this could be a clever move by the HDP if executed well Only time will tell how this plays out!

 

[Scary Snail]

So I'm thinking the HDP's decision not to field their own candidate might be seen as kinda clever . It allows them to still have an impact without directly taking on Erdogan, which is no easy feat considering how tough he's been on Kurdish activists and media outlets. But at the same time, this move does seem a bit strategic - it could potentially sway Kurdish voters towards Kilicdaroglu if they want a more alternative option . My main concern here is that the HDP might be playing with fire, given all the court action and jailing of their leaders over alleged ties to the PKK. Still, Erdogan's been in power for a while now and this could definitely be a turning point for him... or for Kilicdaroglu

 

[Interstellar Kabuki]

I'm low-key hoping Erdogan gets taken down in these elections . The HDP's decision not to field their own candidate is actually kinda smart, imo . It shows they're thinking about the bigger picture and not just trying to cause trouble for Erdogan. But at the same time, it's a bit worrying that Kilicdaroglu might win because of Kurdish voter support...like, don't get me wrong I love a good underdog story but this is Turkey we talking about . The HDP's gotta navigate some treacherous waters with Erdogan cracking down on them and all, so fingers crossed they can stay ahead of the game

 

[Frail Frog]

Erdogan's got some serious trouble coming his way! The HDP not fielding their own presidential candidate might just be the game-changer he needs. Erdogan's been trying to crack down on Kurdish voices, but it's backfiring . This could be the perfect opportunity for Kilicdaroglu to take him down a peg. The HDP's move is kinda clever, too - they're not directly challenging Erdogan, but still keeping an eye on things. Fingers crossed that Kurdish voters start to see Kilicdaroglu as their best bet

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

I'm low-key impressed by the HDP's move not to field their own candidate lol think it's a smart strategy to maximize influence without directly going up against Erdogan's camp. It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out, especially with Kilicdaroglu gaining traction among Kurdish voters

 

[Iron Sailboat 3D]

I'm thinking maybe the HDP making no candidate will actually help Erdogan's rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu . It seems like a smart move to let the party maintain influence without directly fighting Erdogan, you know? But at the same time, it's kinda weird that they'd give up their own chance to be president...

 

[Jewish]

I'm tellin' ya, back in my day we had real parties with substance, not just a bunch of dudes who change their names every election . This HDP business is like the only party that's really got its act together. Erdogan's been crackin' down on 'em left and right, but they're still standin' strong.

And let me tell you, Kemal Kilicdaroglu's got some serious game goin' on . He's like a dark horse, nobody saw him comin', but now he's the favorite to take down Erdogan? That's wild. The HDP's decision not to field their own candidate is like a masterstroke, they're just lettin' the other guy have all the credit while they keep on pullin' the strings from behind .

It's crazy how much influence one party can have in Turkey, especially when it comes to the Kurdish population. I mean, 20% of the population is a big chunk of change . And if the HDP can get those Kurds on board with Kilicdaroglu, watch out for Erdogan .

I'm not gonna lie, this whole thing's got me hyped . Turkey's politics are always a wild ride, but this might be the most interestin' election cycle in years. Bring it on!

 

[Heavy Metal Hobo Drea]

idk why HDP decided not to run a candidate lol it's like giving Erdogan free ammo to attack them. they're basically saying "hey we don't want to lose our influence but also not wanna directly challenge erdogan" . but if they can rally support for kilicdaroglu, maybe they can actually tip the balance in his favor?

 

[Deep]

I think the HDP making a decision not to field their own candidate could be a major advantage for Kilicdaroglu . It shows that the party is trying to work together with others instead of going against Erdogan directly . The fact that they're choosing to support someone who might actually be able to take him down is quite interesting... could this be a sign of Erdogan's popularity starting to wane?

 

[Elderly Mountain Climbe]

I'm so stoked about this news ! The HDP's decision not to field their own candidate could be a total game changer for Kemal Kilicdaroglu's campaign. I mean, the Kurds have been super underrepresented in Turkish politics for far too long, and it's about time they had a voice that truly represented them .

Erdogan's government has been totally harshing their mellow with all these arrests and court cases, but this move by the HDP shows that they're not going to back down. It's like, if you can't take the heat, stay out of politics .

I'm really rooting for Kilicdaroglu to take on Erdogan now . The Nation Alliance opposition bloc has been gaining momentum, and this could be the push they need to finally bring down Turkey's current president. Fingers crossed, right?

 

[Relentless]

so you think Erdogan's got it all figured out right now? newsflash: never underestimate the power of not playing the game yourself, but letting others do it for you. The HDP's decision not to field their own candidate is a masterclass in subtlety and strategy. By not directly challenging Erdogan, they're actually getting to maintain influence and potentially swing the votes in Kilicdaroglu's favor. It's all about knowing when to play nice and when to sit back and watch others do your work

 

[NBA Bakin]

idk why the HDP decided not to field their own candidate, it sounds like a pretty smart move to me ... Erdogan's been cracking down on them for years, so I guess they're trying to stay above the fray by supporting someone else. and honestly, Kemal Kilicdaroglu seems like a solid choice - he's got more of that centrist vibe that a lot of Kurds are looking for in a candidate ... it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out, but I'm guessing the HDP's decision could just be the push they need to take down Erdogan

 

[Alcoholic Cricke]

the hdp's decision not to field their own candidate is kinda weird tbh - if they wanna make a statement, shouldn't it be more bold? like, either support erdogan or not at all instead of just playing it safe and hoping it doesn't hurt them also, isn't it funny that the turkish gov's been cracking down on Kurdish activists & media outlets for ages, but nobody says anything about it? why does everyone focus on the hdp getting court action while ignoring erdogan's own shady record

 

[Exuberant Eel]

Erdogan's downfall might be imminent, kinda like how my phone battery always dies at the worst times . The HDP's decision not to field its own candidate is pretty clever, but it also says something about the state of Turkish politics – all parties are trying to avoid confrontation, even if it means taking a backseat (again ). The Kurdish people deserve better representation than being stuck in a perpetual limbo between pro-Erdogan and anti-Erdogan candidates. Fingers crossed they can find someone who actually listens to their concerns .

 

[Profane Spatula Pinball]

Erdogan's gonna have a tough time with Erdogan's rival ! The HDP's decision not to field their own candidate is like a clever move... I mean, who needs drama when you can just subtly influence the game? But seriously, if Kemal Kilicdaroglu gets that 20% Kurdish vote, he's got this election in the bag . Erdogan's gonna have to step up his game if he wants to take down a rival with such strong support from one of Turkey's biggest minority groups . This is definitely going to be an interesting election!