Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey)

The HDP first participated in the 2014 local elections, where it ran in most provinces in western Turkey while the DBP ran in the Kurdish south-east. The two parties combined gained 6.2% of the total votes but HDP failed to win any municipalities. The 21 MPs from the Peace and Democracy Party, the predecessor of the DBP, joined the HDP on 28 August 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/bdp-lawmakers-join-sister-party-hdp.aspx?pageID=238&nid=65671&NewsCatID=338|title=BDP lawmakers join sister-party HDP - POLITICS|work=hurriyetdailynews.com|date=28 April 2014 }} For the June 2015 general election, the HDP took the decision to field candidates as a party despite the danger of potentially falling below the 10% threshold. Even though most of the politicians from HDP are secular left-wing Kurds, the candidate list included devout Muslims, socialists, Alevis, Armenians, Assyrians, Azerbaijanis, Circassians, Lazi, Romanis and LGBT activists. Of the 550 candidates, 268 were women.{{cite news|title=Inclusive HDP candidate list aspires to pass 10 pct election threshold|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/inclusive-hdp-candidate-list-aspires-to-pass-10-pct-election-threshold.aspx?pageID=238&nID=80731&NewsCatID=338|access-date=10 April 2015|work=Hurriyet Daily News|date=7 April 2015}}{{cite news|title=HDP'den MHP'nin Doğu'daki Kalesine Azeri Kadın Aday|url=http://www.haberler.com/ozel-haber-hdp-den-azeri-kadin-aday-7170211-haberi/|access-date=10 April 2015|agency=Haberler|date=8 April 2015}}{{cite news|title=HDP'den Laz Aday Adayı|url=http://www.bizimkocaeli.com/haber/siyaset/hdpden-laz-aday-adayi/124642.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226122052/http://www.bizimkocaeli.com/haber/siyaset/hdpden-laz-aday-adayi/124642.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 26, 2015|website=Bizim Kocaeli|access-date=10 April 2015|date=25 February 2015}} In 2015, Barış Sulu was the first openly gay parliamentary candidate in Turkey as a candidate of the HDP.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/firstever-openly-gay-parliamentary-candidate-stands-for-election-in-turkey-10274746.html First-ever openly gay parliamentary candidate stands for election in Turkey] The Independent, 25 May 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015. Support for the HDP among Alevis rose from 7% to 16% between June 2015 and June 2018.{{cite journal |title=Special Issue: Alevi Kurds: History, Politics and Identity |journal=Kurdish Studies |date=May 2020 |volume=8 |issue=1 |page=86 |issn=2051-4883}}

{{See also|Kurdish Political Movement in Turkey}}{{main|Peoples' Democratic Congress}}

The People's Democratic Party originates from the Peoples' Democratic Congress (Halkların Demokratik Kongresi, HDK), a platform composed of various groups including left wing parties Revolutionary Socialist Workers' Party (DSIP), Labour Party (EMEP), Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Socialist Party of Refoundation, the Greens and the Left Party of the Future, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), some far-left factions, feminist groups, LGBT groups, trade unions and ethnic initiatives representing Alevis, Armenians, and Pomaks.{{cite web|url=http://www.halklarindemokratikkongresi.net/hdk/bilesenler/hdk-bileseni-kurumlar/517|title=HDK Bileşeni Kurumlar - Halkların Demokratik Kongresi|author=Red Bilisim|access-date=7 June 2015}} In the 2011 general election, the HDK fielded 61 independent candidates in order to bypass the 10% parliamentary threshold under the 'Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block'. 36 members were elected, though the election of Hatip Dicle was later annulled by the Supreme Electoral Council and this number subsequently fell to 35.

Fatma Gök, one of the HDP's founding chairpersons, described the HDK as a means of providing political hope to citizens and also as a way of intervening in the Turkish political system. The HDK operated by organising conferences and congresses, establishing the HDP as a means of fulfilling their political goals and establishing a means of having political influence.

The formal application of the HDK for political party status was delivered to the Ministry of the Interior on 15 October 2012. One of the party's chairpersons, Yavuz Önen, claimed that the party would be the political wing of the HDK and not a replacement for it.{{cite journal|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/hdk-partilesti-hdp-oldu/siyaset/siyasetdetay/18.10.2012/1613741/default.htm|title=HDK partileşti HDP oldu|date=18 October 2012|access-date=7 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.biyografi.net/kisiayrinti.asp?kisiid=5421 |title=Yavuz Önen biyografisi burada ünlülerin biyografileri burada |publisher=biyografi.net |access-date=2015-08-01}}

The HDP was described by its founding chairpersons as a party that aims to eliminate the exploitation of labour and to fundamentally re-establish a democracy in which honourable and humanitarian individuals can live together as equal citizens.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/siyaset/hdk-partilesti-hdp-oldu-1613741|title=HDK partileşti HDP oldu|website=Milliyet|date=18 October 2012 |language=tr|access-date=2020-03-03}} It was further described as a party aiming to bring about fundamental change to the existing Capitalist system though uniting a wide range of left-wing opposition movements. Gök claimed that any political movement with similar aims to the HDK that had not merged with the party was more than welcome to do so. However, Önen claimed that the HDP would be entering elections as an individual party and not as part of a wider electoral alliance, adding that the party is itself formed of a wide coalition of political forces in the first place.{{cite web|url=http://www.halklarindemokratikkongresi.net/soylesi/halklarin-demokratik-partisi-hdp-es-baskanlari-fatma-gok-ve-yavuz-onen-basarmaktan-baska-caremiz-yok/38|title=Halkların Demokratik Partisi (HDP) Eş Başkanları Fatma Gök ve Yavuz Önen: "Başarmaktan başka çaremiz yok" - Halkların Demokratik Kongresi|author=Red Bilisim|access-date=7 June 2015}}

Concerns were raised that the inclusion of the Kurdish nationalist HDK member Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in the HDP would raise allegations that the HDP was also a mainly Kurdish orientated party. However, Önen claimed that the HDP's key goal was to establish a different perspective of viewing the Turkish political scene and moving away from the existing 'Kurdish versus Turkish' dichotomy that had become institutionally entrenched within Turkish political perceptions.{{cite news |author=Bariş Avşar |title='Kongre'si bitmeyen parti kuruldu |url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/politika/kongresi_bitmeyen_parti_kuruldu-1104993 |newspaper=Radikal |date=22 October 2012 |access-date=7 June 2015}} Three outstanding parliamentarians of the BDP, Sebahat Tuncel, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, and Ertuğrul Kürkçü abdicated in October 2013 to join the HDP. Levent Tüzel, former Labour Party chairman and independent member of parliament also joined the three to form a caucus.{{cite web|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/politika/3_bdpli_vekil_istifa_etti-1156966|title=3 BDP'li vekil istifa etti|work=Radikal}} In April 2014, 24 more parliamentarians from the BDP joined the HDP, which following formed a parliamentary group.{{Cite web|title=English :: HDP Forms Group in Parliament|url=https://bianet.org/english/print/155309-hdp-forms-group-in-parliament|access-date=2020-10-21|website=bianet.org}}

File:Levent tuzel.jpg founder Abdullah Levent Tüzel joined the HDP parliamentary caucus despite party's split with the HDP.]]

The Labour Party (EMEP) had been a member of the Peoples' Democratic Congress and had participated in the establishment of the HDP in 2012. However, the EMEP released a statement on 17 June 2014, announcing a split with the HDP.{{cite web|url=http://emep.org/emek-baris-demokrasi-blogundan-hdk-hdp-orgutlenmesine/|title=Yeni HDP'ye Dair Açıklama|author=Mustafa Mayda|work=Emek Partisi (EMEP)|date=17 June 2014 |access-date=7 June 2015}} The split was attributed to the restructuring of the Kurdish nationalist Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) into a local-only party under the new name Democratic Regions Party (DBP), while the BDP's parliamentary caucus would be integrated into the HDP. This would, in turn, require the HDP's constitution to be altered in order to ensure greater compliance and conformity with the ideology of the BDP. This caused the EMEP to formally announce their secession from the HDP, but stated that they would continue their participation with the HDK. Despite the split, the Labour Party endorsed the HDP presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş for the 2014 presidential election and also announced that they would not be running in the June 2015 general election.{{cite web|url=http://emep.org/halki-temsil-edecek-cumhurbaskani-adayimiz-selahattin-demirtas/|title=Halkı Temsil Edecek Cumhurbaşkanı Adayımız Selahattin Demirtaş|author=Mustafa Mayda|work=Emek Partisi (EMEP)|date=2 July 2014 |access-date=7 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.yenisafak.com.tr/gundem/iste-secimlere-katilacak-31-parti-2072115|title=İşte seçimlere katılacak 31 parti|author=Piri Medya|date=7 June 2015|work=Yeni Şafak|access-date=7 June 2015}}

The HDP is seen as the Turkish variant of the Greek SYRIZA and the Spanish Podemos parties, similar in their anti-capitalist stance. The founding co-chairs of the HDP, Yavuz Önen and Fatma Gök, both emphasized the HDP's fundamental principle of rejecting capitalism and "labour exploitation" for the benefit of all Turkish citizens regardless of race, gender or religion.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} The party in this sense is therefore secular, though has refrained from endorsing the secularism enshrined in the principles of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}} The HDP has also called for a new constitution that enshrines minority rights for Kurds, Alevis and other minorities.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/28793336.asp|title=HDP seçim bildirgesini açıkladı|author=Zeynep GÜRCANLI- Aysel ALP|work=HÜRRİYET - TÜRKİYE'NİN AÇILIŞ SAYFASI|date=22 April 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015}}

Kurdish peoples living in Turkey have long been a persecuted minority, or forcibly assimilated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/kurdish-question-171030073038610.html|title=On the Kurdish Question|last=Dabashi|first=Hamid|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2018-11-21}} This has led them to support leftist and parties which defended Kurdish cultural rights. This began with the People's Labor Party (HEP) and continued with the Freedom and Equality Party (ÖZEP) in June 1992, the Freedom and Democracy Party (ÖZDEP) in October 1992, the Democracy Party (DEP) in 1993, the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) in 1994, the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) in 1997, the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in 2005, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in 2008 and finally the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) in 2014. Most of these parties were closed down for allegedly violating the constitution.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-18|title=History repeats itself: Turkey seeks closure of a pro-Kurdish party - yet again|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/history-repeats-itself-turkey-seeks-closure-of-a-pro-kurdish-party-yet-again-news-56680|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Gazete Duvar|language=tr-TR}} While HDP was facing a closure case, it transferred its political activities to the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM).{{Cite web|date=2023-08-26|title=HDP kongrede siyasi mücadeleyi YSP'ye devrediyor|url=https://www.dw.com/tr/hdp-kongrede-siyasi-m%C3%BCcadeleyi-yspye-devrediyor/a-66633795|website=DW Türkçe|language=tr-TR}} While the HDP is also affiliated with the Peace and Democracy Party and the Democratic Regions Party, it aims to establish a new perspective that overcomes the traditional Turkish versus Kurdish divide. The HDP instead aims to collectively represent people of all ethnic or religious backgrounds and to safeguard their civil liberties by bringing about direct democracy and an end to capitalist exploitation. The party has long advocated the establishment of local 'people's parliaments' to increase democratic representation and decentralisation of power. Much of the party's attempts to unite citizens throughout Turkey is through the opposition to the governing conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP), which the HDP has accused of being authoritarian, exploitative and discriminatory against religious minorities.{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/26801626.asp|title=Otoriter lidere alternatifim|author=Cansu ÇAMLIBEL|work=HÜRRİYET - TÜRKİYE'NİN AÇILIŞ SAYFASI|date=14 July 2014 |access-date=7 June 2015}} The HDP's foreign policy also involves opening the border to Armenia which has been closed since 1993 due to Turkey support of Azerbaijan during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War.{{Cite web|title=Armenia considers prospect of open borders with Turkey {{!}} Eurasianet|url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-considers-prospect-of-open-borders-with-turkey|access-date=2021-04-25|website=eurasianet.org|language=en}} The HDP is the only major political party in Turkey that does not support Armenian genocide denial{{cite book |last1=Galip |first1=Özlem Belçim |title=New Social Movements and the Armenian Question in Turkey: Civil Society vs. the State |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-59400-8|pages=87, 163}} and urges Turkey to set up a truth commission and take responsibility regarding their role in World War I. Although the HDP has been part of anti-NATO protests before, the party has abstained from participating in parliamentary votes on NATO enlargement, such as the votes regarding Sweden and Finland in the Grand National Assembly. At the same time, some HDP MPs have previously been members of the Turkish Group of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

The party's women branch criticized that the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention which protects the rights of women, was taken by a single man.{{Cite web|date=11 May 2021|title=HDP MPs: İstanbul Convention is in effect!|url=https://m.bianet.org/english/print/243920-hdp-mps-istanbul-convention-is-in-effect|access-date=2 July 2021|website=Bianet}}

During a conference in Selahattin Demirtaş's presidential election campaign, the HDP had caused controversy by not displaying any Turkish flags. In response, Demirtaş had maintained that the HDP respected the flag, stating that the flag represented all citizens of Turkey.{{cite web|url=http://www.zaman.com.tr/politika_demirtastan-turk-bayragi-mesaji_2231429.html|title=Demirtaş'tan Türk Bayrağı mesajı|date=15 July 2014|work=ZAMAN|access-date=7 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201050313/http://www.zaman.com.tr/politika_demirtastan-turk-bayragi-mesaji_2231429.html|archive-date=1 February 2016|url-status=dead}} The party addresses a wide spectrum of voters, having had candidates of different gender and social, national and religious background. A high proportion of women, as well as Alevi, Armenian, Yazidi, and Assyrian candidates mixed with Turkish left-wing politician candidates played a major role towards the success in the parliamentary elections of June 2015.{{Cite web|title=Turkey's Newest Party: Understanding the HDP {{!}} Heinrich Böll Stiftung|url=https://www.boell.de/en/2015/10/27/turkeys-newest-party-understanding-hdp|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung|language=en}}

At around 21:30 (UTC+3) on December 17, 2016, four masked people attacked the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) office in the Beylikdüzü district of Istanbul, which is located at a shopping mall. The attackers managed to overcome the security personnel and started a fire which caused the explosions of the two gas tubes inside the building. One police officer and a security guard sustained minor injuries. That same night, shots were fired by unidentified assailants at the HDP headquarters in Darıca, Kocaeli Province.{{cite news | title=Separate blasts at three HDP buildings in Istanbul| url=http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/181876/separate-blasts-at-two-hdp-buildings-in-istanbul| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220162634/http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/181876/separate-blasts-at-two-hdp-buildings-in-istanbul| url-status=usurped| archive-date=December 20, 2016| agency=World Bulletin| date=17 December 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.sozcu.com.tr/2016/gundem/son-dakika-haberi-istanbul-beylikduzunde-patlama-1572217/ |work=soczu.com |title=Son dakika haberi: Beylikdüzü'nde HDP binasına saldırı }}{{cite web |url=http://t24.com.tr/haber/istanbul-beylikduzunde-patlama,377581 |work=soczu.com |title=İstanbul Beylikdüzü'nde patlama }} Attacks on other HDP offices across the country were also reported, including İzmir, Çanakkale, Hatay, Ankara, and Erzincan.{{cite news | title=Explosions in Istanbul as Angry Mobs Storm HDP Offices| url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/12/17/explosions-in-istanbul-as-angry-mobs-storm-hdp-offices| agency=The New Arab| date=18 December 2016}}

The HDP maintained talks with Abdullah Öcalan through which Öcalan gave a message to the congress stating that "We have never considered our movement apart from Turkey's revolutionary and socialist movements. We have always regarded ourselves as an integral part of this outcome" and "we have to consider the HDP as an integral part of the historical democratic dialogue and negotiation process. If socialism and an open democracy succeed in Turkey, it will be closely related to this democratic negotiation process."{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/26663515.asp|title=HDP'den PKK şov|author=Okan KONURALP / ANKARA|work=HÜRRİYET - TÜRKİYE'NİN AÇILIŞ SAYFASI|date=23 June 2014 |access-date=7 June 2015}} Öcalan's niece Dilek Öcalan was{{Cite web|last=Region|first=The|title=Exiled HDP officials issue urgent call for Leyla Guven|url=https://theregion.org/article/13342-exiled-hdp-mps-issue-urgent-call-for-leyla-guven|access-date=2021-01-25|website=theregion.org}} and nephew Ömer Öcalan is a member of parliament.{{Cite web|title=Death of 4 People in Suruç Before Elections on Parliamentary Agenda|url=https://www.bianet.org/english/human-rights/199442-death-of-4-people-in-suruc-before-elections-on-parliamentary-agenda|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Bianet - Bagimsiz Iletisim Agi}} The relationship between the HDP and the PKK has been put forward by the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) as a reason why it would be better for the HDP to not gain representation in Parliament, though government journalists alleged that this would result in greater violence by the PKK and attempts to establish a separate parliament in Diyarbakır.{{cite web|date=24 April 2015|title=AKP officials insinuate HDP-PKK link, HDP outraged|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/national_ak-party-officials-insinuate-hdp-pkk-link-hdp-outraged_378918.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606210459/http://www.todayszaman.com/national_ak-party-officials-insinuate-hdp-pkk-link-hdp-outraged_378918.html|archive-date=6 June 2015|access-date=7 June 2015|work=TodaysZaman}}{{cite web|title=PKK'dan HDP için bomba seçim kehaneti|url=http://www.internethaber.com/pkkdan-hdp-icin-bomba-secim-kehaneti-761569h.htm|access-date=7 June 2015|work=Internethaber|date=2 February 2015 }} In contrast, HDP politicians also accused the AKP of scaremongering when they claimed that their affiliation to the PKK made them unfit for parliamentary representation.{{cite web|date=4 May 2015|title=PKK/HDP'nin korku siyaseti|url=http://www.aksam.com.tr/yazarlar/kurtulus-tayiz/pkkhdpnin-korku-siyaseti/haber-402926|access-date=7 June 2015}} PKK militants have also been accused of raiding local shops and cafes in the south-east of Turkey and demanding votes for the HDP, with one civilian being wounded when a group of PKK youth militants raided a cafe in Silvan.{{cite web|date=28 April 2015|title=PKK kahvehane basıp oy istedi!|url=http://www.sozcu.com.tr/2015/gunun-icinden/pkk-kahvehane-basip-oy-istedi-816292/|access-date=7 June 2015}}{{cite web|title=PKK'dan 'HDP'ye oy verin' baskısı|url=http://www.takvim.com.tr/guncel/2015/05/04/pkkdan-hdpye-oy-verin-baskisi|work=takvim.com.tr}} Selahattin Demirtaş has denied having an 'organic relationship' with the PKK and claimed that the allegations of PKK militants demanding votes for the HDP from voters was untrue.{{cite web|date=22 April 2015|title=Selahattin Demirtaş Habertürk'e açıkladı: PKK ile organik bağımız yok|url=http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/1069160-selahattin-demirtas-haberturke-acikladi-pkk-ile-organik-bagimiz-yok|access-date=7 June 2015|work=www.haberturk.com}}{{cite web|title=Ağrı'da AKP-HDP 'alan mücadelesi' mi yaşanıyor?|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkce/haberler/2015/04/150417_agri_alan_mucadelesi|access-date=7 June 2015|work=BBC Türkçe|date=17 April 2015 }}

{{further|List of arrested mayors in Turkey|2021 Peoples' Democratic Party closure case}}

According to the pro-government daily Daily Sabah, the HDP members have long been accused of voicing their support for the Kurdistan Workers' Party and glorifying terrorism committed by the organization. Selahattin Demirtas, whose older brother is a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, has been accused by pro-Turkish government newspaper Daily Sabah of supporting the PKK's leader Abdullah Öcalan in a 2016 speech in Nowruz.{{Cite web|last=sabah|first=daily|date=November 4, 2016|title=Pro-PKK HDP politicians' support for terror at a glance|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2016/11/04/pro-pkk-hdp-politicians-support-for-terror-at-a-glance|website=Daily Sabah}}{{better source needed|date=August 2021}} Members of the party have been also accused of providing financial support to the PKK and attending the funeral of killed rebels.{{Cite web|title=Pro-PKK HDP politicians' support for terror at a glance|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2016/11/04/pro-pkk-hdp-politicians-support-for-terror-at-a-glance|access-date=2018-12-29|website=DailySabah|date=4 November 2016 }}{{better source needed|date=August 2021}} On 15 June 2016, the HDP was criticized after its members attended the funeral of Eylem Yaşa, a suicide bomber who had killed police officers and civilians, and injured 51 others in Istanbul.{{Cite web|last=sabah|first=daily|date=2016-06-17|title=HDP pays respect to PKK suicide bomber who killed 12 people in Istanbul|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2016/06/17/hdp-pays-respect-to-pkk-suicide-bomber-who-killed-12-people-in-istanbul-1466119660|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Daily Sabah|language=en}}{{better source needed|date=August 2021}} In July 2018, a prosecutor initiated an investigation into the attendance of Feleknas Uca and Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki to a funeral ceremony of a member of the People's Defence Forces (HPG), the armed wing of the PKK in their electoral district Batman.{{Cite web|title=Probe opened into HDP lawmakers for attending 'PKK funeral' - Turkey News|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/probe-opened-into-hdp-lawmakers-for-attending-pkk-funeral-134786|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=20 July 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=20 July 2018|title=Investigation Against 2 More HDP MPs Due to 'Funeral'|url=https://m.bianet.org/bianet/politics/199351-investigation-against-2-more-hdp-mps-due-to-funeral|website=Bianet}} In November 2016 the party Co-Chairs MPs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ as well as the HDP MPs Nursel Aydogan, Idris Baluken, Leyla Birlik, Ferhat Encü, Selma Irmak, Abdullah Zeydan, Nihat Akdoğan and Gülser Yildirim have been arrested.{{Cite web|last=HDP|title=Update on the Arrest of HDP Co-chairs and MPs|url=https://www.hdp.org.tr/en/statements/update-on-the-arrest-of-hdp-co-chairs-and-mps/9195|access-date=2020-01-20|website=www.hdp.org.tr|language=en}}

From September 2016 onward, the Turkish judiciary started submitting HDP supporters, staff and elected officials to anti-terrorism accusations.{{cite web|last=thuffman|date=6 June 2017|title=Kurdish-backed militia launches Raqqa operation as another declares war on Turkey|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/06/sdf-syria-kurdish-fight-liberate-raqqa-turkey-tak.html|access-date=10 February 2018}} On the 20 May 2016, the Turkish Parliament voted in favor to enabling the lifting of MPs immunity, following which 54 of the 59 HDP MPs were prosecuted on terrorism-related charges.{{Cite web|title=Kurdish politicians to appear in Turkish courts by force {{!}} DW {{!}} 02.10.2016|url=https://www.dw.com/en/kurdish-politicians-to-appear-in-turkish-courts-by-force/a-35929633-0|access-date=2020-03-20|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}} As of June 2017, more than 10 HDP representatives were under arrest, widely disturbing the HDP's ability to communicate and remain active in the political scene. On June 5, the Turkish interior ministry announced that 130 people who are outside the country while being suspected of militant links will lose their citizenship unless they return to Turkey within three months and meet government standards. Three of the suspects are HDP leaders: Faysal Sarıyıldız, Tuğba Hezer Öztürk, and {{ill|Özdal Üçer|tr}}.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-citizenship-idUSKBN18W17D|title=Turkey plans to strip 'fugitives' of citizenship, including Gulen: ministry|newspaper=Reuters |date=June 5, 2017|via=www.reuters.com}} In March 2018, it was reported that 11'000 HDP members have been detained, of which more than 3000 have been arrested.{{Cite web|title=One in three HDP members detained over last 3 years|url=https://ahvalnews.com/hdp/one-three-hdp-members-detained-over-last-3-years|access-date=2020-04-02|website=Ahval|language=en}} Also in the days the local elections of March 2019, dozens of candidates for municipal councils were arrested over terror charges.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-30|title=Turkey arrests over 60 Kurdish politicians on eve of elections|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/a14f4f17-6905-4c6d-854a-43df90e8e02d|access-date=2020-05-17|website=www.kurdistan24.net}} The Council of Europe reported, that after the elections were held, six elected mayors as well as dozens of elected members of the municipal council were not allowed to assume their posts for having been dismissed during the state of emergency{{Cite web|title=Local elections in Turkey and Mayoral re-run in Istanbul (31 March and 23 June 2019)|url=https://rm.coe.int/local-elections-in-turkey-and-mayoral-re-run-in-istanbul-committee-on-/1680981fcf|access-date=17 May 2020|website=Council of Europe|page=21/37}} following the attempted coup d'état in 2016. The HDP appealed to the court that they should be allowed to assume, but the constitutional court denied the request. The HDP reported that after the municipal elections in 2014, more than 90 elected mayors of the HDP ally Democratic Regions Party (DBP) have been dismissed and dozens of them have been arrested as well.{{Cite web|title=THE TRUSTEE REGIME IN TURKEY, DENIAL OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE and THE RIGHT TO BE ELECTED|url=https://www.solidar.org/system/downloads/attachments/000/001/026/original/HDP_EN-TRUSTEE_REGIME_IN_TURKEY.pdf?1575538620}} In 2016, the Interior Ministry filed a criminal complaint about four HDP members, including former deputy Mülkiye Birtane, for making terror propaganda.{{Cite web|title=Eski HDP milletvekili için 7,5 yıl hapis istemi|url=https://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/1265990-eski-hdp-milletvekili-mulkiye-birtane-icin-7-5-yil-hapis-istemi|website=www.haberturk.com|date=13 July 2016 }}

On 1 March 2018, the HDP's deputy Dilek Öcalan, the niece of Abdullah Öcalan, the founding leader of the PKK, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for making terror propaganda. Two months later, the membership of two deputies, Osman Baydemir and Selma Irmak, were revoked after they were convicted and sentenced on criminal charges related to the PKK.{{Cite web|title=Two more HDP lawmakers stripped of statuses in Turkish Parliament - Turkey News|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/two-more-hdp-lawmakers-stripped-of-statuses-in-turkish-parliament-130598|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=19 April 2018 }}{{Cite web|url=https://m.bianet.org/english/politics/194777-hdp-mp-dilek-ocalan-sentenced-to-2-years-6-months-in-prison|title=HDP MP Dilek Öcalan Sentenced to 2 Years, 6 Months in Prison - english}} In the same month, the former deputy Aysel Tuğluk was sentenced to ten years in prison for being a member of a terror organization (PKK).{{Cite web|title=Former HDP deputy co-chair Tuğluk sentenced to 10 years in jail over 'terror organization membership' - Turkey News|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/former-hdp-deputy-co-chair-tugluk-sentenced-to-10-years-in-jail-over-terror-organization-membership-128883|access-date=2018-12-30|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=16 March 2018 |language=en}}

In August 2018, a former deputy Leyla Birlik fled to Greece where she reportedly sought asylum. According to the Turkish sources, she had been arrested in November 2016 for making terror propaganda and released pending trial, but she had left the country despite her travelling ban.{{Cite web|title=Former pro-PKK HDP deputy seeks asylum in Greece|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2018/08/25/former-pro-pkk-hdp-deputy-seeks-asylum-in-greece|access-date=2018-12-27|website=Daily Sabah|date=25 August 2018 }}

On 11 August 2018, one of the deputies of the party, Mahmud Togrul, was sentenced to {{frac|2|1|2}} years in prison for making terror propaganda.{{Cite web|title=Turkish deputy gets jail time for terrorist propaganda|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkish-deputy-gets-jail-time-for-terrorist-propaganda/1304382|access-date=2018-12-29|agency=Anadolu Agency}} Two months later, the former lawmaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder was sentenced to three years and six months in jail for spreading terror propaganda.{{Cite web|title=Former HDP MP Önder turns himself in to authorities after court ruling|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/hdp-mp-onder-turns-himself-in-to-authorities-after-court-ruling-139511|access-date=2018-12-26|website=Hürriyet Daily News|date=6 December 2018 |language=en}}

In September 2020, the Turkish Government ordered the detention of the current mayor of Kars Ayhan Bilgen, together with other prominent HDP figures like the former MPs Ayla Akat Ata or Sırri Süreyya Önder due to their support of the Kobani protests in 2014 which were held in support of the Kurdish population besieged in Kobani by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).{{Cite web|title=Turkish police detain dozens of HDP members, including Mayor Bilgen, over 2014 Kobane protests|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/politics/2020/09/25/turkish-police-detain-dozens-of-hdp-members-including-mayor-bilgen-over-2014-kobane-protests/|access-date=2020-09-25|website=www.duvarenglish.com|language=en-GB}} By October 2020, Duvar reported that only six out of the sixty-five elected mayors of the HDP were still acting as mayors. The other mayors were replaced by state imposed trustees of the Turkish Ministry of the Interior.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-10|title=HDP left with six municipalities out of 65 it won in March 2019 elections|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/politics/2020/10/02/hdp-left-with-six-municipalities-out-of-65-it-won-in-march-2019-elections|access-date=2020-11-30|website=www.duvarenglish.com|language=en}} In June 2020, Leyla Güven and Musa Farisogullari were stripped of their parliamentarian immunity and arrested.{{Cite web|title=Turkish opposition MPs detained, removed from positions {{!}}|url=https://thearabweekly.com/turkish-opposition-mps-detained-removed-positions|access-date=2021-03-04|website=AW|language=en}} Two of their MPs had to defend themselves from having attended a Democracy March in protest of the dismissal of Farisoğullari and Güven in the midst of the spark of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-18|title=Turkish gov't seeks to strip two HDP MPs of parliamentary immunity for attending 'Democracy March'|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-govt-seeks-to-strip-two-hdp-mps-of-parliamentary-immunity-for-attending-democracy-march-news-55101|access-date=2021-03-04|website=www.duvarenglish.com}} Since February 2021, several parliamentarians are faced with investigations into the lifting of their parliamentarian immunity due to the parties involvement in the protests during the Siege of Kobani in October 2014.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-03|title=AKP hopes people will quit supporting HDP instead of shutting it down|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/akp-hopes-people-will-quit-supporting-hdp-instead-of-shutting-it-down-news-56468|access-date=2021-03-04|website=www.duvarenglish.com}} Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was stripped of his parliamentary membership on 17 March 2021{{Cite web|date=2021-03-17|title=Turkey moves to ban pro-Kurdish HDP party|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210317-turkey-moves-to-ban-pro-kurdish-hdp-party|access-date=2021-03-17|website=France 24|language=en}} due a conviction for spreading "terror propaganda" in a tweet of 2016 supporting eventual peace negotiations with the PKK.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Turkey: Don't Expel Opposition Deputy from Parliament|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/16/turkey-dont-expel-opposition-deputy-parliament|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} On the same day the state prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals Bekir Şahin filed a lawsuit demanding the closure of the HDP at the Constitutional Court of Turkey due to the parties alleged organizational links with the PKK. He also called for a five-year ban from politics for 687 HDP politicians.{{Cite web|title=HDP indictment seeks political ban for 687 members, including Demirtaş, Buldan and Sancar|url=https://www.bianet.org/english/politics/241005-hdp-indictment-seeks-political-ban-for-687-members-including-demirtas-buldan-and-sancar|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Bianet - Bagimsiz Iletisim Agi}} Amongst the politicians who are to be banned from politics figure all former party leaders including Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ and dozens of former and current members of parliament.

{{main|Solution process}}

The Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP) government began a peace process with the PKK in 2013, consisting of a withdrawal of militants from Turkish soil and negotiations towards normalisation following nearly 30 years of armed conflict between Kurdish rebels and the Turkish Armed Forces. As a strong advocate of minority rights, the HDP was involved in negotiations with both the government and also the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı Island.

Despite being a left-wing party, the HDP has been accused of negotiating with the conservative orientated right-wing Justice and Development Party (AKP) behind closed doors on issues mainly surrounding the Solution process to the Kurdish separatist militants. Critics of the government and the HDP alleged that such talks could lead to a potential coalition between the AKP and HDP in the event that the HDP enters parliament and the AKP does not win a majority. Such a coalition could potentially deliver Kurdish nationalist demands to the south-east of Turkey while the HDP support the AKP's long-time policy of introducing a presidential system in place of the existing parliamentary system.{{cite web|url=http://www.sozcu.com.tr/2015/gundem/akp-hdp-baskanlik-sisteminde-anlasti-748914/|title=AKP-HDP başkanlık sisteminde anlaştı|date=20 February 2015|access-date=7 June 2015}} In March, AKP Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç claimed that the HDP would be their partners in the solution process and expressed his wish to work in harmony, though also accused some HDP MPs of not working towards lasting peace with sincerity.{{cite web|url=http://www.kurdpress.com/En/NSite/FullStory/News/?Id=9757#Title=Some%20HDP%20figures%20not%20'sincere'%20in%20solution%20process:%20Bulent%20Arinc|title=Kurdpress News Aganecy - Some HDP figures not 'sincere' in solution process: Bulent Arinc|author=DigitalSecure Ltd. HyperMedia Co. Negaresh NewsRoom Ver 5.0|access-date=7 June 2015}} In contrast, government minister Bekir Bozdağ accused the HDP of being part of an 'international project' intending to destabilise the government of Turkey.{{cite web|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/bekir-bozdag-hdp-nin-parti-olarak-secime-yozgat-yerelhaber-737750/|title=BEKİR BOZDAĞ: "HDP'NİN PARTİ OLARAK SEÇİME GİRMESİ BİR PROJEDİR"|date=19 April 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015}} Relations seemed to sour in early April, where the HDP accused the AKP of staging a pre-planned attack against PKK members in the province of Ağrı aimed at gathering more votes in the upcoming general election. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan accused Selahattin Demirtaş of acting like a PKK spokesman. In February 2015, HDP chairwoman Figen Yüksekdağ claimed that a joint statement regarding the solution process could be made with the AKP.{{cite web|url=http://kurdishquestion.com/index.php/kurdistan/breaking-hdp-negotiation-stage-in-solution-process-could-begin-within-2-weeks/623-breaking-hdp-negotiation-stage-in-solution-process-could-begin-within-2-weeks.html|title=BREAKING! HDP: Negotiation Stage in Solution Process Could Begin Within 2 Weeks|access-date=7 June 2015}} Delegations from the AKP and the HDP formally met in the Prime Minister's office in Dolmabahçe Palace in April 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/502503--hdp-divisions-hindering-turkeys-solution-process|title=HDP: Divisions hindering Turkey's solution process|author=Anadolu Ajansı (c) 2011|work=aa.com.tr}} After a raid on the HDP office in Esenyurt, Istanbul in January 2021, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu shared a video flashing images of Abdullah Öcalan, criticizing the European Court of Human Rights for their verdicts.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-24|title=Turkish Interior Minister shares footage from HDP building in Istanbul's Esenyurt following raid|url=https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-interior-minister-shares-footage-from-hdp-building-in-istanbuls-esenyurt-following-raid-video-55983|access-date=2021-01-25|website=www.duvarenglish.com}} The HDP responded that the same images are already used by the HDP themselves since over six months in their press releases. The Presidential spokesperson Fahrettin Altun equated the HDP with the PKK.

{{main|2014 Kurdish riots in Turkey|Siege of Kobanî}}

The peace process was nearly disbanded after pro-Kurdish protests and riots broke out in south-eastern Turkey protesting the lack of government intervention against the advance of ISIL militants on the city of Kobanî in Syria, just south of the Turkish border. The HDP openly supported the protests, while calling for non-violence.{{cite web|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_pro-kurdish-party-leader-calls-for-end-to-violence-in-kobani-protests_361088.html|title=Pro-Kurdish party leader calls for end to violence in Kobani protests|date=9 October 2014|work=TodaysZaman|access-date=7 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525054901/http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_pro-kurdish-party-leader-calls-for-end-to-violence-in-kobani-protests_361088.html|archive-date=25 May 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/hdp-kobani-icin-yine-sokak/siyaset/detay/1961828/default.htm|title=HDP, Kobani için yine sokak çağrısı yaptı|date=29 October 2014|access-date=7 June 2015}} Protestors were met with tear gas and water cannon, leading to more than 40 deaths.{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/reu-turkish-pm-unveils-tighter-security-steps-after-deadly-protests/2491135.html|title=Turkish PM Unveils Tighter Security Steps After Deadly Protests|work=VOA|date=21 October 2014 |access-date=7 June 2015}} Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu heavily criticised the HDP for calling for more protests and responded by drafting a heavily controversial domestic security bill and calling for the HDP to prove itself to be a peaceful political party.{{cite web|url=http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/10/turkey5211.htm|title=Turkish PM slams pro-Kurdish HDP calls for Kobani protests|access-date=7 June 2015}} Nevertheless, the solution process continued despite the riots, with ISIL being completely ejected from Kobanî by April 2015.{{cite web|url=http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/12/turkey5274.htm|title=HDP: Turkish-Kurdish solution process has passed Kobani crisis|access-date=7 June 2015}} HDP MP Altan Tan later claimed that his party had miscalculated the consequences of calling for more protests, although his statements were met with opposition from the confederalist KCK organisation.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2014/10/23/hdp-deputy-kck-member-argue-over-kobani-protests|title=HDP deputy, KCK member argue over Kobani protests|date=23 October 2014|work=DailySabah|access-date=7 June 2015}}

The HDP operates a co-presidential system, whereby the party is chaired by one chairman and one chairwoman, elected during party congresses. Since its establishment in 2012, the party has had a total of ten leaders, five men and five women. The current leaders were elected at the 4th Congress of the Peoples' Democratic Party on the 23 February 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://bianet.org/english/politics/220474-pervin-buldan-mithat-sancar-elected-new-hdp-co-chairs|title=Pervin Buldan, Mithat Sancar Elected New HDP Co-Chairs|date=24 February 2020|website=Bianet|access-date=28 February 2020}}

The following is a list of the current and previous chairpersons of the HDP, showing the names, birth and death dates where applicable and also the start and end dates of their leadership.

In the Extraordinary HDP congress held on 22 June 2014, the outgoing co-chairpersons Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Sebahat Tuncel was by an amendment in the HDP Bylaw {{Cite web|url=https://www.hdp.org.tr/tr/parti-tuzugu/10|title=Parti Tüzüğü|website=www.hdp.org.tr}} awarded the status of the Honorary Presidents. Kürkçü and Tuncel are the first co-presidents to serve in that capacity.

The party has held several ordinary congresses throughout different cities, mostly focussing on provinces in south-eastern Turkey. So far, the party has had two nationwide extraordinary congresses, held in 2013 and 2014, where elections were held to select the chairpersons of the party.

The party's 1st extraordinary congress was held in the Ahmet Taner Kışlalı Stadium in Ankara on 27 October 2013. The HDP Executive Board and the Congressional Preparation Council both recommended Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Sebahat Tuncel for the positions of chairman and chairwoman respectively, after which both formally assumed their positions. The congress focussed mainly in voicing support for the Gezi Park protests. A message from the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, emphasizing the party's support for a decentralization of power and for the establishment of localized 'people's parliaments', was also read out. 105 sitting and 25 reserve members were elected to the Party Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.sendika.org/2013/10/hdp-olaganustu-kongresi-tamamlandi-yeni-esbaskanlar-tuncel-ve-kurkcu/|title=HDP Olağanüstü Kongresi tamamlandı: Yeni eşbaşkanlar Tuncel ve Kürkçü|work=Sendika.Org|date=27 October 2013|access-date=7 June 2015}}

The party's 2nd extraordinary congress was again held in the Ahmet Taner Kışlalı Stadium on 22 June 2014. 156 delegates were eligible to cast votes to elect the new chairman and chairwoman. Since a majority could not be secured in the first two rounds of voting, the leadership election proceeded into a third round where Selahattin Demirtaş was elected as the chairman and Figen Yüksekdağ was elected as the chairwoman of the party. Speeches by the elected leaders mainly centred on the corruption within the Turkish government and also opposition to the established political system.{{cite web|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/politika/hdpnin_2_olaganustu_kongresi_yapiliyor-1198253|title=HDP Eş Genel Başkanlığı'na Selahattin Demirtaş ve Figen Yüksekdağ seçildi|work=Radikal|access-date=7 June 2015}} 100 sitting and 50 reserve members for the Party Council were elected. Outgoing chairpersons Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Sebahat Tuncel were declared Honorary Presidents of the party.Ertuğrul Kürkçü

In the HDPs 3rd Extraordinary Congress on 20 May 2017, Serpil Kemalbay was elected as the new chairwoman while Selahattin Demirtaş was confirmed as its chairman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/20052017|title=Turkey's HDP elects Serpil Kemalbay as new co-leader|website=www.rudaw.net|access-date=2020-03-03}} The party's previous female party leader, Figen Yüksekdağ, had been imprisoned in November 2016, and the Turkish Parliament revoked her parliamentary membership on the 21 February 2017 and on the 9 March 2017 the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled she was no longer a member of the HDP.{{Cite web|url=http://bianet.org/english/politics/184351-yuksekdag-removed-from-hdp-membership|title=Yüksekdağ Removed From HDP Membership|website=Bianet|access-date=3 March 2020}}

Formed in 2012, the HDP has since contested two local, two presidential and three general election. A summary of the results and number of candidates elected is shown below.

{{main|2014 Turkish local elections}}

At the 2014 municipal elections, HDP ran parallel to BDP, with the BDP running in Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeast while the HDP competed in the rest of the country{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/10/new-kurdish-party-could-impact-turkey-elections.html#ixzz2tn1xudyq|title=New Kurdish Party Could Impact Local Turkish Elections|last=Cengiz|first=Orhan Kemal|others=Sibel Utku Bila (trans.)|date=31 October 2013|publisher=Al-Monitor|access-date=24 February 2014}} except Mersin Province and Konya Province where BDP launched its own candidates.[http://www.bdp.org.tr/tr/?page_id=5050 ADAYLARIMIZ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308075718/http://www.bdp.org.tr/tr/?page_id=5050 |date=2014-03-08 }}, BDP official website

After the local elections, the two parties were re-organised in a joint structure. On 28 April 2014, the entire parliamentary caucus of BDP joined HDP, whereas BDP (itself re-organised as the Democratic Regions Party by July) was assigned exclusively to representatives on the local administration level.{{cite web|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/Gundem/2014/04/28/bdp-milletvekilleri-hdpye-katildi|title=BDP milletvekilleri HDP'ye katıldı|date=28 April 2014|publisher=Al-Monitor|access-date=24 February 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://odatv.com/n.php?n=bdp-artik-mecliste-yok-2804141200|title=BDP artık Meclis'te yok|work=odatv.com|date=28 April 2014 |access-date=7 June 2015}}

{{main|2014 Turkish presidential election}}

File:Demirtaş (2014 cumhurbaşkanlığı seçim logosu).png's election campaign logo]]

File:2014 Turkish Presidential Election-Demirtaş.PNG]]

Selahattin Demirtaş was announced as the HDP's candidate for the Presidency on 30 June. In a campaign dominated by the Solution process with Kurdish rebels, he claimed on 5 August in Van that the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had not done enough to bring forward promised legislation, and that the process would collapse immediately if the AKP did not do more to bring lasting peace in the southeast.{{cite web|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/demirtas-baris-surecinin/siyaset/detay/1921365/default.htm |title=Demirtaş: Barış sürecinin bozulmaması gerekir – Milliyet Haber |date=5 August 2014 |publisher=Milliyet.com.tr }}

On 15 July, Demirtaş outlined his road-map for his presidency should he win the election. In a speech lasting just under an hour, he proposed that the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) should be disbanded, that compulsory religion lessons in schools should be removed and that Cemevis (the Alevi houses of worship) should receive national recognition.{{cite web|url=http://www.yurtgazetesi.com.tr/politika/diyanet-kaldirilmali-cemevleri-yasal-statuye-kavusturulmali-h56640.html |title=Diyanet kaldırılmalı, cemevleri yasal statüye kavuşturulmalı |date=31 October 2017 |publisher=Yurtgazetesi.com.tr }} He also proposed the introduction of "People's Parliaments" (Cumhur meclisleri), which would also incorporate Youth Parliaments to increase representation of young citizens.{{cite web|author=Temmuz 15, 2014 |url=http://sozcu.com.tr/2014/gundem/demirtastan-turk-bayragi-mesaji-556375/ |title=Demirtaş'tan Türk bayrağı mesajı- Sözcü Gazetesi |publisher=Sozcu.com.tr |date=15 July 2014}} Pushing for a new constitution, Demirtaş outlined the need to end the non-representation of different cultures, languages, races and beliefs without delay to ensure national stability.{{cite web|author=ali |url=http://www.wanhaber.com/selahattin-demirtas-yol-haritasini-acikladi-193637h.htm |title=Selahattin Demirtaş Yol Haritasını Açıkladı |publisher=Wanhaber.com |date=15 July 2014}} Also in his speech, he praised the Gezi Park protests and displayed photos of himself during the events. He continued to direct applause to the mother of the murdered teenager Berkin Elvan, who died 269 days after being hit by a tear gas canister during the protests and falling into a coma.{{cite web|url=http://www.dunya.com/demirtas-kosk-icin-yol-haritasini-acikladi-233457h.htm |title=Demirtaş Köşk için yol haritasını açıkladı |publisher=Dunya.com |date=15 July 2014}} On the issue of the lack of Turkish flags within the hall in which he was delivering his speech, Demirtaş stated that the Turkish flag represented all citizens of Turkey.{{cite web|url=http://www.turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/politika/171293.aspx |title=Demirtaş yol haritasını açıkladı – TG |publisher=Turkiyegazetesi.com.tr |date=15 July 2014}} His slogan is "Bir Cumhurbaşkanı Düşün" (Imagine a President...), which is followed by several different phrases, such as "Bir Cumhurbaşkanı Düşünün Ayrımcılık yapmıyor. Birleştiriyor, barıştırıyor." (Imagine a President who doesn't Discriminate, who Unites and makes Peace) or "Bir Cumhurbaşkanı Düşünün Herkese Demokrat" (Imagine a President who is Democratic to Everybody). Most of the votes that were cast for Demirtaş were from the Kurdish south-east.

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{{main|June 2015 Turkish general election}}

File:HDP Germany.jpg, 3 May 2015]]

Emboldened by the 9.77% of the vote won by HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtaş in the 2014 presidential election the HDP contested the election by fielding party candidates rather than independent candidates. This was controversial since the HDP's votes would be lost in the event that the HDP failed to win above 10% of the vote. There was speculation as to whether the AKP forced Öcalan to pressure the HDP to contest the election as a party in order to boost their own number of MPs.{{cite web|url=http://nediyor.com/2015/01/30/ak-parti-hdpyi-secimler-icin-zorluyor-mu/|title=nediyor.com|access-date=7 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706175934/http://nediyor.com/2015/01/30/ak-parti-hdpyi-secimler-icin-zorluyor-mu/|archive-date=6 July 2015}} The party charged a ₺2,000 application fee for prospective male candidates, a ₺1,000 fee for female and young candidates under the age of 27 and no fee was collected from disabled applicants. Applications for candidacy were received between 16 February and 2 March.{{cite web|url=http://www.siirtliler.net/aday-adaylarindan-partilerin-alacaklari-ucretler-8837h.htm|title=Aday Adaylarından partilerin alacakları ücretler|date=14 February 2015|work=Siirtliler|access-date=7 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520050949/http://www.siirtliler.net/aday-adaylarindan-partilerin-alacaklari-ucretler-8837h.htm|archive-date=20 May 2015}}

According to a private poll conducted by the HDP in January 2015, the party needed to gather around 600,000 more supporters by the general election in order to surpass the election threshold of 10% and win 72 MPs.{{cite web|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/politika/hdpnin_yeni_oy_kaynagi-1283805|title=HDP'nin 'yeni' oy kaynağı!|work=Radikal|access-date=7 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.taraf.com.tr/politika/iste-demirtasin-elindeki-anketbaraj-icin-600-bin-oy-daha/|title=İşte Demirtaş'ın elindeki anket:Baraj için 600 bin oy daha !|author=Oktay Özilhan|work=Taraf Gazetesi|access-date=7 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406081305/http://www.taraf.com.tr/politika/iste-demirtasin-elindeki-anketbaraj-icin-600-bin-oy-daha/|archive-date=6 April 2015}} Polling organisations such as Metropoll, however, predicted that the party would win around 55 MPs if they won more than 10%.{{cite web|url=https://www.haberturk.com/yazarlar/rusen-cakir-2302/1037226-hdp-ve-genel-secimler-uzerine-7-soru|title=HDP ve genel seçimler üzerine 7 soru|date=31 January 2015|work=www.haberturk.com|access-date=7 June 2015}} HDP candidates hoped that the victory of the left-wing SYRIZA in the January 2015 Greek legislative election in January would result in a boost in popularity.{{cite web|url=http://www.haberler.com/syriza-nin-secim-basarisi-hdp-yi-umitlendirdi-6903975-haberi/|title=Syriza'nın Seçim Başarısı HDP'yi Ümitlendirdi|date=26 January 2015|work=Haberler.com|access-date=7 June 2015}}

In order to maximise their votes, the party's co-leader Figen Yüksekdağ announced that the HDP would begin negotiations with the United June Movement, a socialist intellectual and political platform that includes left-wing parties such as the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) and the Labour Party (EMEP). Negotiations between parties began taking place in early 2015, with the intention of forming a broad alliance rather than a strict political coalition. Although Yüksekdağ ruled out negotiating with the CHP since they were 'closed to dialogue' and Demirtaş was opposed to negotiations, CHP deputy leader Sezgin Tanrıkulu said that the CHP was open for talks and that the two parties had until 7 April to come to an agreement.{{cite web|url=http://www.ensonhaber.com/bbc-secimler-icin-turkiye-solunda-ittifak-arayislari-2015-01-29.html|title=BBC: Seçimler için Türkiye solunda ittifak arayışları|work=Ensonhaber|date=29 January 2015 |access-date=7 June 2015}}

HDP rallied more than expected and gained 13.12% of the total votes cast (6,280,302 out of 46,774,793), breaking the 10% threshold, the minimum set for any Turkish political party to have its representatives sit in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), and securing 81 seats. The HDP carried victories in 14 out of 85 electoral districts in Turkey: Ardahan, Kars, Iğdır, Ağrı Province, Muş, Bitlis, Van, Turkey, Hakkâri, Şırnak, Siirt, Batman, Mardin, Diyarbakır and Tunceli. These electoral districts are mostly Kurdish-majority provinces. In this election, however, the HDP departed from its traditional Kurdish issues-focused role and embraced other minority ethnic and religious groups in Turkey, women's issues, LGBT and left-wing activists and political groups under its wing, promoting its appeal to a national level and drawing a wider pool of support from all over Turkey. This resulted the HDP to be not only the 4th largest political party in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey but also a formidable force in gaining the Turkish overseas votes, ranking 2nd after the AKP with 20.41% and carrying Japan, Ukraine, Greece, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Canada and the U.K. The HDP also derailed the AKP from being the majority party, forming a single-party government and reaching 330 seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the necessary number to enact a referendum necessary to change the constitution so that Turkey would abandon its traditional parliamentary government and instead adopt an American-style executive presidency government. This is hailed by Turkey's opposition parties and their supporters as the biggest contribution the HDP made to the Republic of Turkey.

{{main|2023 Turkish presidential election}}

On 22 March 2023, the HDP declared that they will not field a presidential candidate for the 2023 Turkish presidential election, instead focusing on campaigning against Erdoğan's rule, boosting the chances of the Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.{{Cite news |last1=Hacaoglu |first1=Selcan |last2=Kozok |first2=Firat |date=22 March 2023 |title=Erdogan's Path to Power Narrows as Key Party HDP Steps Out of Race |work=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-22/erdogan-s-path-to-power-narrows-as-key-pro-kurdish-party-hdp-steps-out-of-race |access-date=23 March 2023}}

On 24 March 2023, the party decided to enter the 2023 Turkish general election from the Green Left Party lists.{{Cite web |last=Duvar |first=Gazete |date=2023-03-24 |title=Emek ve Özgürlük İttifakı'nda tam uzlaşı sağlandı |url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/emek-ve-ozgurluk-ittifakinda-tam-uzlasi-saglandi-haber-1609870 |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/ |language=tr-TR}}

• Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite journal |last=Celep |year=2014 |first=Ödül |title=Can the Kurdish Left contribute to Turkey's democratization? |journal=Insight Turkey |volume=16 |number=3 |url=http://file.insightturkey.com/Files/Pdf/can-the-kurdish.pdf |pages=165–180}}
• {{cite book |url= |title=The Kurds and the Politics of Turkey: Agency, Territory and Religion |date=2019 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=9781788316385 |last=Çifçi |first=Deniz |page=84 |quote=The party shares a left-wing ideology with emphasis on social democracy, secularism, feminism, minority rights and pluralism (Halkların Demokratik Partisi Tüzüğü 2014).}}
• {{cite book|editor=Sebastian Maisel |title=The Kurds: An Encyclopedia of Life, Culture, and Society|quote=The successor of the BDP, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is a progressive political party that emphasizes democracy, ecology, women's rights, and equality for all individuals. |date=2018 |page=45 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781440842573}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Official website}} {{in lang|tr|en}}
• [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/850840/turkey-ffm-report-2019.pdf United Kingdom 2019 Home Office Report of a Fact-Finding Mission, Turkey: Kurds, the HDP and the PKK]

{{Political parties of Turkey}}

{{Kurdish parties in Turkey}}

{{Kurdish nationalist organisations}}

{{Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)}}

{{Party of European Socialists}}

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