Turkey Votes 2015(Parliamentary elections)

[Geilinor]

From Reuters: http://news.yahoo.com/islam-center-stage-turkish-election-campaign-enters-final-200453462.html

As I'm not from Turkey, I must admit that I don't know how effective it is for Erdogan to call the HDP Zoroastrians and mean it as an insult.

I thought religion wasn't usually such a major factor in Turkish politics.

[Mefpan]

From Reuters: http://news.yahoo.com/islam-center-stage-turkish-election-campaign-enters-final-200453462.html

As I'm not from Turkey, I must admit that I don't know how effective it is for Erdogan to call the HDP Zoroastrians and mean it as an insult.

I thought religion wasn't usually such a major factor in Turkish politics.

It is since Erdogan. From my extremely limited knowledge, the man seems like some kind of anti-Ataturk.

[Geilinor]

I thought religion wasn't usually such a major factor in Turkish politics.

It is since Erdogan. From my extremely limited knowledge, the man seems like some kind of anti-Ataturk.

According to Kemaliste, most people don't vote for Erdogan because they're against Ataturk, but I really don't know about what motivates Erdogan himself other than power.

[Shrillland]

It is since Erdogan. From my extremely limited knowledge, the man seems like some kind of anti-Ataturk.

According to Kemaliste, most people don't vote for Erdogan because they're against Ataturk, but I really don't know about what motivates Erdogan himself other than power.

Not very much when you look at how he's used the presidency that's supposed to be neutral. He's not an Islamic fundamentalist so much as just another fellow who wants to be a strongman in the Middle East.

[Mefpan]

It is since Erdogan. From my extremely limited knowledge, the man seems like some kind of anti-Ataturk.

According to Kemaliste, most people don't vote for Erdogan because they're against Ataturk, but I really don't know about what motivates Erdogan himself other than power.

I'm not saying that his voters oppose Ataturk or his ideas when he set out to create a modern Turkish state. I'm saying that the man kicks the principles of a modern Turkish state as if it was a puppy and he a third rate movie villain.

[Vistulange]

So, there aren't a lot of us Turks here on NSG compared to British or American users, but I still believe these elections are important enough for our country to warrant a thread. In five days' time as of 2 June 2015, there will be parliamentary elections. I'll summarize the parties and then discuss my own views. Also, you lot get a shiny poll.

First off, the official Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_ge ... tion,_2015

Second, when I speak of perceptions and thoughts, I speak for those inside Turkey. I cannot speak for foreign observers such as yourselves, NSG.

Third, I use the European definitons of "liberal" and "conservative". American NSG'ers, please do not get confused.

Major Parties

Justice and Development Party (AKP)

The current government, holding 312 out of 550 parliament seats. It describes itself as social conservative, economic liberal. While it rejects the following labels, they are also widely used: "Neo-Ottoman" and "Islamic democratic".

Coming to power in 2002, they have governed Turkey for the last 13 years, in which Turkey saw political and economic stability with growth reaching 9,4% in 2004 and 9,2% in 2010. However, this economic success has dipped to 2,1% in 2013 and 4,1% in 2014¹, the Turkish lira rapidly losing value against the United States dollar. While the GDP per capita increased during the AKP's 13-year rule, income equality decreased, leading to a larger wealth gap.

The AKP is heavily accused of gargantuan amounts of corruption. The week referred to as 17-25 December involved a falling out between the AKP government and the Gülen community - an influential religious group with its leader, Fethullah Gülen, in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania - and the revelation of voice records by the Gülen community which indicted several ministers and their sons, leading all the way to then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan himself. The ministers, along with other non-government individuals, were accused of embezzling funds over €86,5 billion.

The AKP has also been accused of cronyism. Following the election victory of the AKP and the subsequent election of Abdullah Gül as President in 2007, the Armed Forces - a traditionally influential force in Turkish politics, having conducted two coups and two memorandums - issued another memorandum on its webpage urging caution that the secular system was weakening and that Islamist forces were threatening to take over the state. Following this "e-memorandum" as it was later remembered, the AKP began a series of trials, "Ergenekon" and "Balyoz", that saw a purge in the Armed Forces, under charges of "planning a coup d'etat". Many senior officers as well as retired officers were detained and jailed, some of them awaiting trial for three years while detained. The Ergenekon trial saw many civilians detained as well, influential leaders such as Doğu Perinçek, Mehmet Haberal and Mustafa Balbay, the latter two elected MPs who had immunity.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while officially non-partisan, is widely and almost universally percieved to be behind the AKP. He was the Prime Minister prior to his election as president in 2014. He is so pervasive in political life as President - normally a very ceremonial role in Turkey - that the current Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, is generally regarded as a puppet by the opposition. Such an example was seen with President Turgut Özal and Prime Minister Yıldırım Akbulut.

The AKP has been also pushing for the "peace process" with the PKK, a group designated as terrorist by Turkey, the European Union, NATO, France and Germany, along with some other countries. The peace process has arguably broken down as the PKK refuses to lay down arms, but the war itself seems to have stopped for now in a ceasefire.

Republican People's Party (CHP)

The CHP is the oldest party in Turkey, having briefly been shut down in the aftermath of the 12 September 1980 coup d'etat as with all parties, but otherwise being active throughout Turkey's political history. It is self-described as social democratic and Kemalist, adhering to the six principles of Turkey's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It is the main opposition party, holding 125 out of 550 parliament seats. Generally having done poorly since the AKP's rise to power, the last time CHP was in government was the government before 2002, with a coalition with the nationalist MHP.

The CHP's opposition against the AKP had been largely ineffective in the past, due to the CHP's tendency to oppose proposals by the AKP without offering anything in return - a policy and mistake that allowed for the AKP's propaganda of "they want the old Turkey" to spread amongst the Anatolian people. However, for this election campaign, they have come forth with many logical proposals which can be reasonably achieved with the national budget. Instead of negative campaigning, as they have done before, they are campaigning without directly attacking the government.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)

The MHP is a nationalist and pan-Turkic party, holding 52 out of 550 seats in parliament. It is fiercely opposed to the AKP due to the peace process with the PKK, which the MHP views as giving concessions to terrorism and rewarding it. The MHP believes that the PKK should not be negotiated with and that the war should continue until the PKK have been crushed. However, despite their fierce rhetoric on the peace process, in other matters, they are generally liable to working with the AKP.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)

The HDP is arguably the latest iteration of a series of pro-Kurdish parties, including HADEP, DEHAP, DTP and BDP. Having merged with the BDP for the 2015 elections and onwards, the HDP seeks to become - unlike before - not just a party for Kurds but a general catch-all party for the Turkish left-wing. The party itself has communists, socialists as well as social democrats inside, along with Kurdish nationalists and anti-nationalists.

A major source of controversy for the party is that it includes names who have openly supported the PKK while the war was still ongoing. Despite these claims, the HDP maintains that it is "not a party for Kurds alone but for everybody" in Turkey. It is arguably the most progressive party in Turkey, supporting LGBT rights, recognition of Kurdish language, heavily emphasizing secularism and having two co-leaders instead of one leader as with the other parties.

The HDP is also regarded to be the most important player in this election, as it is the first time such a party will enter the election as a party. Before, Kurdish politicians had generally entered parliament as independents due to a high 10% election threshold for parties. This time, the HDP seeks to go over the 10% threshold.

Other parties

National Alliance (Milli İttifak)

This alliance is formed by the Great Union Party (BBP) and the Felicity Party (SP). These two parties are far-right Islamist parties who are opposed to the AKP, calling the AKP out for "serving Israel and the West", calling the religious vote for themselves to cross the %10 election threshold. I do not believe that a large percentage of votes will go to them.

Patriotic Party (VP)

A name-change of the Workers' Party led by the left-wing leader Doğu Perinçek, it is a Kemalist, socialist and left-wing populist party. I do not believe that this party will have a large percentage of votes, as the far-left generally does not find a response in Turkish politics.

Anatolian Party (ANAPAR)

Formed by Emine Ülker Tarhan of the CHP after claiming the CHP had lost its original meaning and had swayed too much to the right, the Anatolian Party is a nationalist and Kemalist party. I think it will mostly serve to detract votes from the CHP, but even then, it will remain a fringe party.

Possible outcomes

I would like to give some background to this. It is necessary to have 276 seats out of 550 seats to form a government and 330 to put a constitutional change to referandum. The AKP has been heavily campaigning on changing the constitution from "one written by a coup d'etat to a civilian one" and a presidential system, and as such, aims to achieve more than 330 seats.

Depending on whether the HDP crosses the threshold or not, there are various possible outcomes in my head. If the HDP crosses the threshold, it is likely that no single party will have the necessary 276 seats to form a government. I'll post the most likely ones before moving on to my personal thoughts.

Majority AKP government

I see this as unlikely. For this, the HDP must remain below the 10% threshold and the AKP must get more than (approximately) 44% of the popular vote. In this event, Ahmet Davutoğlu would continue as Prime Minister until the next election, which would be in 2019 unless scheduled earlier.

Minority AKP government

Impossible. The AKP has alienated the other parties too much for outside support to be reliable, as a single vote of confidence would be able to topple the government if the AKP does not follow their line enough. Assuming that this did happen, though, the most likely "partner" would be the MHP, but they are unreliable for the AKP as they are heavily opposed to the peace process.

AKP-MHP coalition

This is more likely, as the AKP and MHP largely agree on most issues except for the Kurdish issue in the Southeast. This is a point of major contention and AKP's unwillingness to adopt a harder line against Kurdish demands could result in a breakdown of the coalition with the MHP leaving.

AKP-HDP coalition

Also somewhat likely, due to the HDP representing most of the Southeast. However, the HDP is a fierce critic of both the AKP and of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the party leader declaring once that "we will not make you [executive] President". As such, the HDP forming a coalition with the AKP might be successful, but would be political suicide for the HDP as their voter base is mostly anti-AKP.

CHP-MHP coalition

Tried once in the past, it gave mixed results. Of course, an earthquake in 1999 didn't help matters, striking the most important financial centre of Turkey the last time. It has potential as the two parties aren't all too different, though MHP is much more nationalist than the centre-left CHP. I have mixed feelings about this, myself. While I do not like the MHP at all, I could see them in a coalition with the CHP.

CHP-HDP coalition

Highly unlikely, as this would require both the CHP and the HDP to get votes well above predicted. This would be a traditional left-wing government, with the peace process likely reaching a reasonable end for all sides involved. However, such a government would face many problems from the civilian bureaucracy, as the cronyism of the AKP for 13 years replaced virtually all the civilian cadres with cadres allied with the AKP.

Opinion Polls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_po ... _2015#2015

As you can see, most polls show the AKP in the 40%-44% band, while the HDP is mostly over 10%. I do not believe that the MHP will reach the 20% barrier, as perusing previous elections show that the MHP is generally stuck in the 15% area.

I could go into detail about which pollster is biased, but I don't think that is necessary.

Personal thoughts

Me? Well, I was stuck between the HDP and CHP for quite a long time. I was going to vote for HDP until the CHP gave their election manifesto, which I can say won me over. While I understand the HDP is a reformed, proper left-wing party, I still believe that their past with the PKK would make me uncomfortable voting for them. Note that I do not exactly see the PKK as "evil" or "wrong" - they want a country and they fought for it - but they delved too much into the civilian killing part of terrorism. If they had conducted their war solely against the Turkish Armed Forces, I actually would have respected that, but too many teachers and children were killed during the war, by both sides.

Thus, I will be voting for the CHP, hoping for a CHP-HDP coalition.

[Ereria]

I hope MHP wins with all my heart. If HDP gets a lot of votes or AKP gets a shit ton of votes I will just give up on my country because it's too stupid.

I wouldn't mind if CHP wins, but MHP is the best party for me. AKP is corrupt as fuck and it's so obvious, but they use religion to get the votes of religious uneducated peasants in Turkey. HDP is a kurdish party, has no place in Turkish politics and should never ever win in Turkey or I will never call my self a Turk again. It would be like an immigrant becoming the king of Norway or the president of Holland. CHP is meh, they aren't too bad, but I don't love them either.

Me? Well, I was stuck between the HDP and CHP for quite a long time. I was going to vote for HDP until the CHP gave their election manifesto, which I can say won me over. While I understand the HDP is a reformed, proper left-wing party, I still believe that their past with the PKK would make me uncomfortable voting for them. Note that I do not exactly see the PKK as "evil" or "wrong" - they want a country and they fought for it - but they delved too much into the civilian killing part of terrorism. If they had conducted their war solely against the Turkish Armed Forces, I actually would have respected that, but too many teachers and children were killed during the war, by both sides.

How can you NOT hate PKK? They kill civilians and our soldiers. People are so two faced. If there was immigrants killing soldiers in Britain, Britain would deport them on the spot, while we turks have to put up with that shit because we are ebil muslims and need to respect our miniorities. It's so double standard. Any Turk that votes HDP is a traitor.

[Malgrave]

I'm hoping for a successful election for the CHP and the HDP. The AKP's increasingly authoritarian and Ottoman agenda has been deeply unsettling and at the very least I want them to no longer have a majority.

[Imperial Valaran]

CHP and HDP isn't quite my 'ideal', but it would be most beneficial in my view. Having the MHP around as well 'could' work, though I'm not so much a fan of them as much fervently wishing to get the AKP out.

AKP has some saving graces, mostly from its beneficial past actions, and both Gül and Davutoğlu are reasonable(ish), but Erdogan has squandered almost all of the goodwill he gained in his earlier terms. Their recent actions are frankly beyond me, both in their increasingly authoritarian stance, corruption, suppression of the judiciary, muzzling of the press, some of their religious policies, reactions to the failed states below them, backtracking Kurdish deals, even their current economic policies (hot money and debt).

However, I still think the AKP will win this one. Even though elements Turkish society has become somewhat more resentful of them, and they have gradually lost seats in every election (though increasing their vote share in many), I still feel they have enough sway to gain at least a coalition, and very possibly a majority. No other party is truly 'national' in its reach, activists, and resources. And not to mention how their popularity has been so resilient, which has survived, corruption scandals, mining accidents, mass protests, Gulenists rebelling (not literally) and so on.

The CHP really needs to get their act together. They need to be an effective secular opposition to Erdogan. And obviously I support lasting Kurdish peace (and a healthy dose of autonomy).

[Vistulange]

CHP and HDP isn't quite my 'ideal', but it would be most beneficial in my view. Having the MHP around as well 'could' work, though I'm not so much a fan of them as much fervently wishing to get the AKP out.

AKP has some saving graces, mostly from its beneficial past actions, and both Gül and Davutoğlu are reasonable(ish), but Erdogan has squandered almost all of the goodwill he gained in his earlier terms. Their recent actions are frankly beyond me, both in their increasingly authoritarian stance, corruption, suppression of the judiciary, muzzling of the press, some of their religious policies, reactions to the failed states below them, backtracking Kurdish deals, even their current economic policies (hot money and debt).

However, I still think the AKP will win this one. Even though elements Turkish society has become somewhat more resentful of them, and they have gradually lost seats in every election (though increasing their vote share in many), I still feel they have enough sway to gain at least a coalition, and very possibly a majority. No other party is truly 'national' in its reach, activists, and resources. And not to mention how their popularity has been so resilient, which has survived, corruption scandals, mining accidents, mass protests, Gulenists rebelling (not literally) and so on.

The CHP really needs to get their act together. They need to be an effective secular opposition to Erdogan. And obviously I support lasting Kurdish peace (and a healthy dose of autonomy).

It depends entirely on what you mean by "winning". The AKP getting the most votes and seats is a given, but forming a government? Not so much. And the problem with the AKP getting below 276 seats is that they have become so toxic to everybody not a supporter of the AKP that nobody would or could make a coalition with them.

Gül is a notably conciliatory voice in the AKP, in contrast with former Prime Minister Erdoğan's polarizing and almost hatred-fuelled speeches. This was particularly notable during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Davutoğlu, while a successful academician in his own right, is responsible for a (failed, I would argue) foreign policy that has resulted in around 1200km of our borders being controlled by some militant group or that, or worse, ISIS. The Syrian and Iraq borders are out of control. Along with that, Davutoğlu has largely remained in the shadow of Erdoğan, and not unjustly so.

The AKP government's policy of arming and funding rebels against Assad in Syria has also backfired as the West has seemingly abandoned expectations for a Syrian peace without Assad. There is also the matter of the MİT lorries going into Syria, but that's an entirely different world of controversy...

One thing is for sure, however. The AKP government, in the last 13 or so years, has alienated so many people and have ruined so many lives that their futures are not bright. A large portion of the government that succeeds them, whether this year or the next election, will largely spend their first term picking up the pieces from the AKP and rebuilding Turkey.

Erdoğan's future after his presidency will not be spent in a summer home on the shores of the Aegean. He has done too much and has destroyed too many of the country's system of law and has too much blood on his hands. He will either flee to exile or be imprisoned. The man commits a crime against the constitution with almost every speech he makes.

[Anollasia]

CHP is the best.

Also, I doubt an AKP-MHP coalition.

[Imperial Valaran]

It depends entirely on what you mean by "winning". The AKP getting the most votes and seats is a given, but forming a government? Not so much. And the problem with the AKP getting below 276 seats is that they have become so toxic to everybody not a supporter of the AKP that nobody would or could make a coalition with them.

I'm not sure they have become so toxic. I'd like to believe they have, but I couldn't say it with any degree in confidence. But this is an outside view (I last visited Turkey a couple of years back, and doubtless opinions have shifted), so do you believe then, that they are so hated by the others that it cannot happen?

A majority for them is still on the cards, though no longer a given.

And if not, a deal could feasibly be struck, with, as you say either the Kurds or the MHP. It would be a difficult deal, but Erdogan is nothing if not cunning and I must admit that he is a consummate politician. He will offer enough promises to make it palatable. It might also fracture midway into the government, as the AKP renege on things.

Furthermore, I doubt the opposition parties could unify as required. They are far more fractious, don't have a unifying figure, and are in most sense, tied to regional concerns (with the possible exception of the CHP). The AKP can and has outmanoeuvred them on many occasions. And this is even assuming it only takes 2-3 to form a majority.

The AKP won't have it easy, but I simply can't quite see a viable alternative, unless the CHP get their act together and do something useful with the Kurds. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[Anollasia]

they use religion to get the votes of religious uneducated peasants in Turkey.

"Turkey's true master is the peasant."

- Atatürk

Any Turk that votes HDP is a traitor.

HDP is definitely better than AKP though.

[Imperial Valaran]

they use religion to get the votes of religious uneducated peasants in Turkey.

"Turkey's true master is the peasant."

- Atatürk

Kemal be ballin'

Also nice to see you around Anollasia

[Agritum]

I still lit a candle of hope for CHP.

But that's just because I'm a big Ataturk fanboy. Even got a photo with his wax statue in Madam Tussauds.

[Vistulange]

It depends entirely on what you mean by "winning". The AKP getting the most votes and seats is a given, but forming a government? Not so much. And the problem with the AKP getting below 276 seats is that they have become so toxic to everybody not a supporter of the AKP that nobody would or could make a coalition with them.

I'm not sure they have become so toxic. I'd like to believe they have, but I couldn't say it with any degree in confidence. But this is an outside view (I last visited Turkey a couple of years back, and doubtless opinions have shifted), so do you believe then, that they are so hated by the others that it cannot happen?

A majority for them is still on the cards, though no longer a given.

And if not, a deal could feasibly be struck, with, as you say either the Kurds or the MHP. It would be a difficult deal, but Erdogan is nothing if not cunning and I must admit that he is a consummate politician. He will offer enough promises to make it palatable. It might also fracture midway into the government, as the AKP renege on things.

Furthermore, I doubt the opposition parties could unify as required. They are far more fractious, don't have a unifying figure, and are in most sense, tied to regional concerns (with the possible exception of the CHP). The AKP can and has outmanoeuvred them on many occasions. And this is even assuming it only takes 2-3 to form a majority.

The AKP won't have it easy, but I simply can't quite see a viable alternative, unless the CHP get their act together and do something useful with the Kurds. Hopefully I'm wrong.

One, Erdoğan is not the head of the AKP. He is the president, an officially non-partisan position. While he has been breaching his own oath since the election business began, he still cannot negotiate for the AKP. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Prime Minister and leader of the AKP, is nowhere near a shrewd politician as Erdoğan is. He was 'elected' in the first place because he was the only person who Erdoğan felt who was still loyal and that he could direct as he saw fit. Other notable names in the AKP, such as Bülent Arınç, Mehmet Şimşek or Ali Babacan could and probably would have went their own way, with Erdoğan unable to rein them in.

Two, the CHP is quite new, this time. They have put their stupid nationalism to the side for most part and would be willing to work with the HDP.

Three...how many years ago? So many has happened in just two years. 2013 is generally regarded as the year that the AKP went batshit crazy with power.

[Valaran]

I'm not sure they have become so toxic. I'd like to believe they have, but I couldn't say it with any degree in confidence. But this is an outside view (I last visited Turkey a couple of years back, and doubtless opinions have shifted), so do you believe then, that they are so hated by the others that it cannot happen?

A majority for them is still on the cards, though no longer a given.

And if not, a deal could feasibly be struck, with, as you say either the Kurds or the MHP. It would be a difficult deal, but Erdogan is nothing if not cunning and I must admit that he is a consummate politician. He will offer enough promises to make it palatable. It might also fracture midway into the government, as the AKP renege on things.

Furthermore, I doubt the opposition parties could unify as required. They are far more fractious, don't have a unifying figure, and are in most sense, tied to regional concerns (with the possible exception of the CHP). The AKP can and has outmanoeuvred them on many occasions. And this is even assuming it only takes 2-3 to form a majority.

The AKP won't have it easy, but I simply can't quite see a viable alternative, unless the CHP get their act together and do something useful with the Kurds. Hopefully I'm wrong.

One, Erdoğan is not the head of the AKP. He is the president, an officially non-partisan position. While he has been breaching his own oath since the election business began, he still cannot negotiate for the AKP. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Prime Minister and leader of the AKP, is nowhere near a shrewd politician as Erdoğan is. He was 'elected' in the first place because he was the only person who Erdoğan felt who was still loyal and that he could direct as he saw fit. Other notable names in the AKP, such as Bülent Arınç, Mehmet Şimşek or Ali Babacan could and probably would have went their own way, with Erdoğan unable to rein them in.

Two, the CHP is quite new, this time. They have put their stupid nationalism to the side for most part and would be willing to work with the HDP.

Three...how many years ago? So many has happened in just two years. 2013 is generally regarded as the year that the AKP went batshit crazy with power.

'Officially'. I am still very much of the opinion that Erdogan holds the reins of power, his very own Medvedev-Putin arrangement. This won't stop him from arrnaging a deal in practice.


That is actually great to hear

Has that gotten through to the voters though, do you think?

Oh I realise that a lot has happened. But I watched with baited breath at the Gezi protests, and then the Gulenists & corruption scandals, and then the Presidential Elections (and the mining tragedies sometime before). Each time it was very much 'they can't possibly do it after all this has happened, how can AKP still keep all its support, given all they've done'. And each time they managed it. Their core vote is just that resilient, and it doesn't help all those media outlets have been muzzled. Opinion in Turkey seems more polarised than it was, but support for the AKP has only chipped away at the edges; the block is still there.

I keep feeling like I'm judging Turkey by liberal western rules, and not by Turkish ones, to the point that my hopes are unfulfilled each time. So, given all the above, I really have to doubt whether the AKP will lose enough of the vote.

And it was 2012-2013. *Feels an urge to revisit*

[MERIZoC]

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=342538&hilit=CHP

[Imperial Valaran]

http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=342538&hilit=CHP

Oh well. Serves me right for not being on NSG recently.

Probably time to call for a merge then.

[MERIZoC]

I hope MHP wins with all my heart. If HDP gets a lot of votes or AKP gets a shit ton of votes I will just give up on my country because it's too stupid.

I wouldn't mind if CHP wins, but MHP is the best party for me. AKP is corrupt as fuck and it's so obvious, but they use religion to get the votes of religious uneducated peasants in Turkey. HDP is a kurdish party, has no place in Turkish politics and should never ever win in Turkey or I will never call my self a Turk again. It would be like an immigrant becoming the king of Norway or the president of Holland. CHP is meh, they aren't too bad, but I don't love them either.

Me? Well, I was stuck between the HDP and CHP for quite a long time. I was going to vote for HDP until the CHP gave their election manifesto, which I can say won me over. While I understand the HDP is a reformed, proper left-wing party, I still believe that their past with the PKK would make me uncomfortable voting for them. Note that I do not exactly see the PKK as "evil" or "wrong" - they want a country and they fought for it - but they delved too much into the civilian killing part of terrorism. If they had conducted their war solely against the Turkish Armed Forces, I actually would have respected that, but too many teachers and children were killed during the war, by both sides.

How can you NOT hate PKK? They kill civilians and our soldiers. People are so two faced. If there was immigrants killing soldiers in Britain, Britain would deport them on the spot, while we turks have to put up with that shit because we are ebil muslims and need to respect our miniorities. It's so double standard. Any Turk that votes HDP is a traitor.

You are aware that the Kurds are mostly Muslim, yes?

[Baltenstein]

Altough I'm very dissapointed about Syriza's performance in Greece so far, I'm hoping that HDP in Turkey and Podemos in Spain will do well in the elections.

[Anollasia]

"Turkey's true master is the peasant."

- Atatürk

Kemal be ballin'

Also nice to see you around Anollasia

What do you mean by ballin'?

[MERIZoC]

Altough I'm very dissapointed about Syriza's performance in Greece so far, I'm hoping that HDP in Turkey and Podemos in Spain will do well in the elections.

Podemos will. HDP….probably not.

[Anollasia]

I still lit a candle of hope for CHP.

But that's just because I'm a big Ataturk fanboy. Even got a photo with his wax statue in Madam Tussauds.

He has a wax statue there?

[Imperial Valaran]

Kemal be ballin'

Also nice to see you around Anollasia

What do you mean by ballin'?

He has that swagger

(its a good thing)