TEHRAN – Nazmi Gur, an MP from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), says the Turkish people consider President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as “responsible for recent violence and conflicts” in Turkey.

Some analysts argue that Erdogan provoked a war against the Kurdish People’s Party (PKK) in order to fuel nationalistic sentiments in favor of AKP in the snap elections on October 1 after his party failed to secure a majority in general election in June.

“We do not believe that AKP will be able to form a one party government after the October 1st election,” Gur tells the Tehran Times.

Following is the text of the interview:

Q: What is President Erdogan’s strategy in snap elections? Do you think that the creation of tensions in Turkey in recent weeks by AKP is aimed at forcing the Kurdish party HDP to lose the 10 percent threshold?

A: Erdogan’s main objective for October 1 election is to create one-man, authoritarian system in Turkey’s administrative system. He wants to do by making AKP to gain the majority of the votes and thus form a one party government. 
In order to reach his objectives, Erdogan wants HDP to be under the threshold. In this respect, he evaluates that the ongoing tensions, social polarization and the conflict between PKK and state security forces would decrease the votes of HDP. However, we do believe that both Turkish and Kurdish communities don’t want the war and they are mainly aware that this war is a result of Erdogan’s strategy which is intended to realize his ambitions.

Q: Regarding the atmosphere created in Turkey by AKP, do you think that the party will be able to win the election to form a one-party government and dominate the parliament and make Erdoghan’s dream of changing the parliamentary system into presidential come true?


A: We do not believe that AKP will be able to form a one party government after the October 1st election. On the contrary, many polls show that AKP’s votes are decreasing gradually. This is mostly because the people in Turkey regard Erdogan and AKP’s policies as responsible for recent violence and conflicts.

Erdogan is gradually losing his support and votes, thus I don’t believe that he will regain his power in any future. 


Q: Some believe that appointing Togrul Turkes as deputy prime minister is aimed to creating a gap in MHP party in order to weaken the party in upcoming election. What do you think?


A: Appointment of Tugrul Turkes maybe aimed at influencing MHP, but I do not think that it will have a dramatic impact on that party. The increasing nationalistic sensations and lynching campaign against Kurdish people may increase the votes of MHP, but I don’t think that it will be a magnificent increase.

Q: Considering the differences between Ankara and Washington over the Syrian Kurds, how do you see the prospect of the Syrian Kurds in the country’s future political system?


A: Syrian Kurds are the only effective force in the fight against ISIS. The Western anti-ISIS coalition is also aware of this fact. We believe that as a fully democratic and libertarian organization, Syrian Kurds’ system is a model for whole of the Syria and it should be regarded in this respect for a democratic Syria. Kurdish people are important actors in Syria as well as the rest of the Middle East and this cannot be ignored.


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Syrian Kurds are the only effective force in the fight against ISIS. The Western anti-ISIS coalition is also aware of this fact.