Turkey's persecuted pro-Kurdish party may hold the key to Erdogan's political fate. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has announced that it will not field its own presidential candidate, a move analysts say could allow its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival.
The HDP's decision is seen as a calculated move, given the crackdown on the party since 2015. The former leader of the party, Selahattin Demirtas, has been in prison for nearly seven years, and the party faces possible closure by court for suspected collusion with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Turkey's Kurds are an ethnic minority that has historically faced marginalization and oppression under Erdogan's rule. The HDP was founded in 2012 to promote peace and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict.
The party's decision not to field a presidential candidate is a significant development, given that its supporters make up around half of Turkey's Kurdish population. However, analysts say that the other, more conservative Kurdish voters have traditionally voted for Erdogan's AK Party.
Erdogan's hold on power has been eroded in recent years, with the HDP winning 13% of seats in the June 2015 election and denying the ruling party its majority for the first time since 2002. Since then, the HDP has become a key player in Turkish politics, and its decision not to field a presidential candidate may tip the balance in favor of Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and represents the six-party Nation Alliance opposition bloc. He has been a vocal critic of Erdogan and has promised to promote democracy and human rights if he becomes president.
The HDP's position as a kingmaker in Turkish politics is precarious, given that it faces accusations of ties to the PKK and could be banned by court at any moment. However, analysts say that its influence may nonetheless determine the course of Turkey's politics.
Erdogan has spent years cracking down on the HDP and its supporters, but the party remains a powerful force in Turkish society. The HDP's leader, Hisyar Ozsoy, says that his party is not going to have an "ultra-nationalist discourse" against Kilicdaroglu or other opposition candidates.
The HDP's decision to abstain from fielding a presidential candidate is seen as a calculated move to allow its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival. However, analysts say that the outcome of the election remains uncertain and that the HDP's influence may still shape the course of Turkish politics.
In other news, Iranian state media reported on Sunday that two more IRGC officers died following an Israeli attack in Syria. The Iranian government has vowed to respond to "state terrorism," while Israel has remained silent about the incident.
Meanwhile, China and Brazil have reached an agreement to ditch the US dollar as an intermediary in trade, citing the Chinese state news outlet, China Daily. The move is seen as a significant development for global trade, but also raises concerns about the rise of alternative currencies.
Finally, a photo of Palm Sunday celebration at St. Elijah church in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, has been released by CNN.
The HDP's decision is seen as a calculated move, given the crackdown on the party since 2015. The former leader of the party, Selahattin Demirtas, has been in prison for nearly seven years, and the party faces possible closure by court for suspected collusion with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Turkey's Kurds are an ethnic minority that has historically faced marginalization and oppression under Erdogan's rule. The HDP was founded in 2012 to promote peace and democratic resolution of the Kurdish conflict.
The party's decision not to field a presidential candidate is a significant development, given that its supporters make up around half of Turkey's Kurdish population. However, analysts say that the other, more conservative Kurdish voters have traditionally voted for Erdogan's AK Party.
Erdogan's hold on power has been eroded in recent years, with the HDP winning 13% of seats in the June 2015 election and denying the ruling party its majority for the first time since 2002. Since then, the HDP has become a key player in Turkish politics, and its decision not to field a presidential candidate may tip the balance in favor of Erdogan's main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and represents the six-party Nation Alliance opposition bloc. He has been a vocal critic of Erdogan and has promised to promote democracy and human rights if he becomes president.
The HDP's position as a kingmaker in Turkish politics is precarious, given that it faces accusations of ties to the PKK and could be banned by court at any moment. However, analysts say that its influence may nonetheless determine the course of Turkey's politics.
Erdogan has spent years cracking down on the HDP and its supporters, but the party remains a powerful force in Turkish society. The HDP's leader, Hisyar Ozsoy, says that his party is not going to have an "ultra-nationalist discourse" against Kilicdaroglu or other opposition candidates.
The HDP's decision to abstain from fielding a presidential candidate is seen as a calculated move to allow its supporters to vote for Erdogan's main rival. However, analysts say that the outcome of the election remains uncertain and that the HDP's influence may still shape the course of Turkish politics.
In other news, Iranian state media reported on Sunday that two more IRGC officers died following an Israeli attack in Syria. The Iranian government has vowed to respond to "state terrorism," while Israel has remained silent about the incident.
Meanwhile, China and Brazil have reached an agreement to ditch the US dollar as an intermediary in trade, citing the Chinese state news outlet, China Daily. The move is seen as a significant development for global trade, but also raises concerns about the rise of alternative currencies.
Finally, a photo of Palm Sunday celebration at St. Elijah church in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, has been released by CNN.
and I'm still trying to process everything that happened there. The food was insane, but have you ever tried to order food in a foreign country when you only speak English? 
It's like a whole different language, right? Anyway, what's with the Israeli attack on Iran again? 
Is it just another one of those things that'll never get resolved? 
The HDP's decision not to field its own candidate could be a game-changer for him... or it could be his downfall 
. I can imagine how scary it must be for the Kurdish people, still facing marginalization and oppression after all these years. It's like, their party is literally trying to help Erdogan win, but then again, they're not going to sacrifice their values for that 
.
. And now the HDP is like, "Hey, we're not going to play by Erdogan's rules" 
. It's a bold move, but at the same time, you can't blame them for trying to protect their people and their way of life 
.
. I just hope that somehow, someway, democracy wins out in Turkey 
. And yeah, the other news about Iran and China is wild... it feels like the world is constantly changing 
Turkey's HDP party is basically saying "screw it" and not running anyone for president which is gonna give Erdogan's main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu a boost 
but we all know how this ends 
the Kurds have been getting screwed under Erdogan's rule since like 2015 and now they're just giving up hope 
plus there's still these tensions with the PKK and who knows when the HDP is gonna get banned by court 
It's like when you're trying to navigate a tricky social situation - sometimes taking a step back and letting others take the lead can be the wisest decision. The HDP is essentially saying, "We may not have a voice at the table, but we'll allow our supporters to have a say through their preferred candidate." 
It's a clever play, but also a reminder that influence isn't always about being in the spotlight - sometimes it's about creating space for others to shine. 
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens now that Erdogan's hold on power is starting to slip. But one thing's for sure, it's gonna be interesting to watch this whole situation unfold 
It looks like so many people were there, despite the tensions between Turkey and Iraq. Maybe it's a sign that things are starting to change?
. They're accused of ties to the PKK and could get banned by court anytime soon. It's like they're walkin' on eggshells 
. One thing's for sure - this election is gonna be a wild ride 
!
and I think it's because people are finally waking up to his BS 
. Like seriously, 7 years in prison for Selahattin Demirtas? That's insane! 
And the party won't even field its own candidate? Talk about a calculated move 
.
I'm actually rooting for him to take down Erdogan 
. Maybe it's time Turkey gets a president who actually cares about its people 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that their supporters are basically forced to vote for Kilicdaroglu because of it. It's all so... calculated 
? Like, they're already being banned by court and accused of ties to the PKK, but somehow their voice still matters in Turkish politics? It just feels like a game, you know? 
... if the HDP doesn't put up a candidate, their supporters might just flock to Kilicdaroglu's camp, you know? The HDP's got a lot riding on this, what with all the crackdowns they've faced since 2015 
. But at the end of the day, it's all about power and who's got the most influence in Turkish politics 
... now they're actually making waves. And what's with this new alliance between China and Brazil? Is it like that old Soviet-Eastern bloc thing, but without the Cold War drama 
... Erdogan's grip on power is loosening and it's anyone's game now 
... Kilicdaroglu's message of democracy and human rights might just resonate with enough people to give him a chance 
... it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out 
. The HDP's decision is super strategic, considering the crackdown on them since 2015 
. And can we talk about China and Brazil ditching the US dollar? That's some big news 
! Global trade is gonna change so much