Following statements by Altan Tan, a Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır deputy, about the position of conservative Kurds in the HDP and a possible split in Kurdish politics, which caused turmoil within the party, HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş replied to Tan's claims, giving the debate a new dimension.

Tan said Kurdish politics is at a crossroads, signaling a possible restructuring of political parties, in an interview published on Sunday. The following day Demirtaş harshly criticized Tan without targeting him. "We are not at a crossroads. We preserve our policy discourse. Those who were saying the HDP is at a crossroads, are the ones at a crossroads."

"The agenda of the party is clear, the documents of the party are clear. We need to stand against attacks on the party in solidarity, especially these days." He further said the HDP is not a perfect party and is open to criticism. Demirtaş added: "However, our party has decision-making mechanisms regarding criticism. Ignoring that mechanism is intolerable in terms of the party agenda and political moral and discipline. The HDP did not come into existence via individuals."