The leader in the pro-Kurdish party in Turkey Selahattin Demirtas said Wednesday that the violence between the security forces and Kurdish rebels in the southeast of the country make it “impossible” organizing early parliamentary November 1.
“The conditions are not met in the East to hold elections (…) if the violence continues, the elections will not be held,” said Mr. Demirtas quoted by the Internet edition of the daily Hürriyet.
“Our comrades who returned from the region say anything good,” added Co-Chair ruling Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), referring to the recent observation missions sent by his movement in the southeast of the country mainly Kurdish .
The HDP was a resounding success in the parliamentary elections of June 7 by collecting 13% of the vote and 80 of 550 parliamentary seats. This score was instrumental in depriving the Justice and Development Party (AKP, the Islamic-conservative) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the absolute majority it had held since 2002.
The leader of the AKP and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu failed to form a coalition government, Erdogan called new elections for November 1st. The head of state hoped that his party will regain its absolute majority to govern alone and continue to create a strong presidency.
With its success in June, Mr. Demirtas confirmed his electoral pretensions by setting aims to grab 20% of the vote. Turkey launched late July 1st “war against terrorism” aimed jihadist group Islamic state (EI) but especially the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
For over a month, the military operations of the Turkish army and PKK attacks against security forces succeed on a daily basis in the country. According to a provisional toll cited by the pro-government press, the violence killed nearly 70 soldiers, police and gendarmes and a thousand rebels.
Ankara, 2 September 2015 (AFP) –
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