As if all are indebted to the HDP

As if all are indebted to the HDP

As a citizen and a journalist, I can wish for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to cross the threshold and enter parliament. This may depend on this or that reasoning, but would the same wish be expected from opponent parties? 

For example, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)... Could it be that it competes in the east with the HDP for Kurdish votes and at the same time wishes that the HDP votes increase; could that be possible? 

For instance, take the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). It will compete with the HDP in the west for Alevi votes and, at the same time, it will wish for the HDP’s success, direct its voters to the HDP so that they cross the threshold. Is that logical? 

Would you have believed it if they had told you that this kind of a mindset, this logical procession would be generated? 

An atmosphere has been created as through the AK Party and CHP have debts to pay to the HDP; as if it was the most natural thing for it to expect solidarity votes from its opponents…

I would not be a bit surprised if co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş calls the AK Party and CHP to collect votes for the HDP, and post tweets for gentlemanly manners. 

As if rival political parties have a commitment to act together to carry the HDP over the 10 percent threshold…

I asked former Interior Minister Efkan Ala last Friday on CNNTürk; he answered frankly: “I hope there is a quality election competition and our people will leave the HDP under the threshold.”

They were surprised; as if it were the weirdest wish in the world, his words were carried to the headlines. Well, Efkan Ala from the AK Party said, “We are not in a position to ask for votes for the HDP; we will ask for votes for ourselves.”  

Former CHP chair Deniz Baykal said: “The CHP is not a charity. We are not the Red Crescent. We cannot help anybody. We do not have one vote to waste. Do not ever argue to help some others to cross the threshold; we do not have such a duty.”

You would atrophy, HDP Deputy Chair Meral Danış Beştaş was upset. “Correct, the CHP is not the Red Crescent but because there was no alternative, the CHP has gained votes like it was the main charity.” She meant “What if we gain some also; what goes for the CHP, the same goes for us…”

What was Baykal supposed to say? “We have enough votes dear voters, spare some for the HDP, go about distributing votes.” Really? 

Anti-Erdoğanism has reached an illogical level. Any road that would upset President Tayyip Erdoğan has become valid. 

This is our newest reasoning and the peak of this mentality was reached by Figen Yüksekdağ, the HDP’s co-chair.

Yüksekdağ said, “If HDP remains under the threshold, then be sure that this has not happened through normal means. If we cannot cross the threshold, all of Turkey should know that this was done through a civilian coup. There is no other way.”

We are facing a “superior mind” that presents voting for HDP as a must. If they cannot cross the threshold, it would be the fault of the AK Party and the CHP. 

I suggest the same reasoning to others. They should not look for another excuse on election night. If the AK Party comes out below 45 percent and the CHP below 35 percent then they should immediately say, “A cat entered the power distribution unit.”