The Prokurdish opposition party HDP in Turkey has nominated its former chairman Selahattin Demirtaş as a candidate for presidential election, although Demirtaş has been imprisoned for one and a half years. In election on 24 June, he is to compete against incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as HDP announced. Thus, election campaign events start on Friday in Istanbul and Diyarbakır.
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“We come toger to share our joy about presidential candidacy of Selahattin Demirtaş. We can already see a bright future, “said two HDP chairmen Pervin Buldan and Sezai Temelli. They called on ir followers to come to rallies on Friday.
According to media reports, four or opposition parties want to close ir own alliance for parliamentary elections. The presidential election was originally scheduled for November 2019. However, Erdoğan has preferred it for more than a year. It will now take place at same time as parliamentary election on 24 June. In this way, controversial presidential system will also enter into force earlier, for which a narrow majority voted in constitutional referendum in April 2017. The president would n be appointed as head of state and government in one and with far-reaching powers.
It is unclear wher Demirtaş can actually run from prison. The 45-year-old had made party presidency in February, declaring his political career to be suspended for duration of his detention. Several lawsuits against Demirtaş run for accusations of terror. It threatens up to 142 years of imprisonment.
Demirtaş had achieved a respectable victory against Erdoğan at first direct election of President in Turkey in August 2014 with 9.8 percent of vote. In parliamentary elections in June 2015, HDP moved to Parliament for first time. Erdoğan lost majority.
Erdoğan accuses HDP of being political arm of banned Kurdish Workers ‘ Party PKK. In November 2016 he had n HDP chairman Demirtaş and or deputies arrested. Today, party is weakened by arrest of thousands of officials and members and is also isolated within opposition.
