CHP hints at forging alliance with pro-PKK HDP ahead of 2019


The Republican People's Party (CHP) has hinted at forging a strong alliance with the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in a report prepared at its "Justice Convention."

CHP Ankara Deputy Şenal Sarıhan prepared a report underlining 12 suggestions from party members that took part in its "Justice Convention," which was held between Aug. 26-30 in the western province of Çanakkale.

In the report, joining hands and forming a bloc with the HDP was suggested ahead of the 2019 local and general elections as well as the presidential elections, "even if it meant crossing the red lines of the party." Leaving behind the Kurdophobia, the importance of heading to the elections with "a democratic alliance" was also underlined. It was stated in the report that red lines might not be taken into consideration for once for the sake of the elections.

Meanwhile, the burgeoning close relations between the CHP and the HDP have been subjected to criticism from both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the MHP, saying that the CHP has been turning a blind eye to the HDP's support for the PKK terrorist group.

The alliance between the CHP and the HDP has caught the attention of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well. Prior to his departure to Kazakhstan, President Erdoğan stated that the CHP and HDP do not uphold any national values. "They are in an alliance that complains to the West about Turkey."

On various occasions, the CHP and HDP have backed each other. Furthermore, when Kılıçdaroğlu launched a march from Ankara to Istanbul in order to protest the imprisonment of CHP deputy Enis Berberoğlu for leaking secret documents to the press, a delegate from HDP, including co-chair Serpil Kemalbay, group deputy chairman Ahmet Yıldırım and some other deputies joined the march as a sign of support.

Meanwhile, an investigation was launched into CHP Istanbul Deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu, who previously claimed that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) used in military operations killed civilians. The allegations made by Tanrıkulu were rejected by the Defense Ministry with a written statement.