Erdogan’s political fate may be determined by Turkey’s Kurds | CNN

Turkish President Erdogan's political fate may be sealed by the country's Kurdish minority. In a surprising move, the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has decided not to field its own presidential candidate in the upcoming election, allowing its supporters to vote for Erdogan’s main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

The HDP's decision comes as a significant blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has cracked down on the party since it began chipping away at his voter base. The party's former leader Selahattin Demirtas has been in prison for nearly seven years, and the party faces possible closure by a court for suspected collusion with the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and affiliated groups.

However, analysts say that the HDP's influence may just tip the balance enough to unseat Erdogan. The party's decision not to field a candidate allows its supporters to vote for Kilicdaroglu, who represents the six-party Nation Alliance opposition bloc and is the strongest contender to run against Erdogan in years.

"We are facing a turning point that will shape the future of Turkey and (its) society," said the HDP in a statement. "To fulfill our historical responsibility against the one-man rule, we will not field a presidential candidate in (the) May 14 elections."

The HDP's decision is seen as a strategic move to protect its influence and allow its supporters to vote for Kilicdaroglu, who is the strongest contender to run against Erdogan. The party's former leader Demirtas remains an influential figure, and his influence may play a significant role in the outcome of the election.

The crackdown on the HDP has been rooted in the threat it poses to Erdogan politically, as well as its position as one of the main parties representing Turkey’s Kurds, an ethnic minority from which a separatist militant movement has emerged. The Turkish government has tried to link the HDP to the PKK but has so far failed to prove "a real connection."

A post-Erdogan Turkey may give some breathing space to the Kurds and Kurdish-dominated parties in Turkey, according to experts. Many Kurdish voters have recently left Erdogan's camp, making the HDP a key player in the election.

"We are aware of our responsibility here. We are aware of our role. We know we are in a kingmaker position," said Ozsoy Yildirim, a member of the HDP's central committee.

The outcome of the election will be closely watched globally as Turkey's relations with its neighbors and the international community hang in the balance.

This is wild Erdogan's got some major problems on his hands. The Kurds are like "nah, we're not voting for you" and it's basically handing Kemal Kilicdaroglu the election on a silver platter . And with Selahattin Demirtas still out there, influencing people, this could get super interesting. I mean, Erdogan's been cracking down on the HDP for years but now they're like "you know what? We'll just let our supporters vote for you instead" . It's like a master move or something.

lol can you believe Erdogan is actually struggling with his own people? like he thought the hdp wasn't a threat but it seems like they're gonna give him a run for his money... i mean Kemal Kilicdaroglu is a total dark horse right now, who knew? and what's up with the hdp not running their own candidate though? did they really think kilicdaroglu would just step in and save them? anyway, this whole situation has me on the edge of my seat - turkey election vibes are getting real

the hdp's decision to not field a candidate is like, super strategic, i guess . allowing their supporters to vote for kilicdaroglu gives them more control over the outcome without directly putting themselves at risk of being crushed by erdogan's machinery. and let's be real, if the hdp's influence does tip the balance in favor of opposition, it could be a major blow to erdogan's one-man rule . but on the other hand, the fact that they're not even fielding a candidate might just give erdogan an excuse to claim victory by default . either way, it's gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out in may

this whole situation with the HDP not fielding a candidate for Erdogan is like a big gamble but i think it could actually pay off for them because they're allowing their supporters to vote for Kilicdaroglu who's got a solid chance of beating Erdogan and if that happens it could be a game-changer for the Kurds in Turkey who've been feeling kinda marginalised especially with all the recent crackdowns on the HDP it's like they're being given a second chance

[] I think this is gonna be interesting!

Imagine a big diagram with 3 main branches:
```
+---------------+
| Erdogan's |
| Camp |
+---------------+
| |
| v
+---------------+---------------+
| HDP's | Kilicdaroglu's|
| Influence | Alliance |
| (Kurds) | Opposition |
+---------------+---------------+
```
The Kurdish minority is like a key that can unlock the door to Erdogan's power. If the HDP's supporters vote for Kilicdaroglu, it could give him a major boost and make Erdogan's camp less stable.

On the other hand, if the HDP decides not to field a candidate, it might seem like they're giving up, but actually, they're just redirecting their influence to the opposition bloc. It's like a strategic move on a chessboard!

Either way, this election is going to be super important for Turkey's future and its relationships with the international community. I'm keeping an eye on it!

THE HDP'S DECISION TO NOT FIELD A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS A GAME CHANGER FOR THE ELECTION ! IT ALLOWS THEIR SUPPORTERS TO VOTE FOR KEMAL KILICDAROGLU, WHO IS THE STRONGEST CONTENDER AGAINST ERDOGAN. THIS COULD TIP THE BALANCE IN FAVOR OF THE OPPOSITION AND UNseat ERDOGAN FOR GOOD!

this is gonna be super interesting to watch
Erdogan's grip on power is tightening, but the Kurdish minority might just take him down
I made a quick diagram to visualize it:
```
+---------------+
| Erdogan's |
| Base |
+---------------+
|
| HDP
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Support | | Kurdish Voters |
| from Kurds | | Leaving Erdogan|
+---------------+ +---------------+
```
analysts think the HDP's decision not to field a candidate might just unseat Erdogan, and it could be a game-changer for Turkish society
The party's former leader Demirtas is still super influential, so his impact on the election will be huge

omg did u guys see that new avengers movie? i mean idk if it's true but i heard they're gonna make a solo movie for the winter soldier i'm so down for that! anyway back to turkey... i feel bad for kemal kilicdaroglu he's got his work cut out for him. btw have u tried that new plant based milk at starbucks? it's supposed to be amazing!

This is gonna be crazy! Erdogan's grip on power might finally slip . The Kurds are always been the ones to keep him on his toes, but I think this move by the HDP could just tip the scales . Kilicdaroglu's a solid candidate and if the Kurds come out in full force for him, it's game over for Erdogan . But what's gonna happen to Demirtas? He was basically imprisoned for speaking truth to power... justice needs to be served . And can we talk about how messed up Turkey's politics have gotten? It's like they're living in a drama TV show !

thoughts on this are that if the hdp supporters just vote for kilicdaroglu it means they actually like him more than erdogan atm but i'm not sure how long that'll last lol what if kilicdaroglu's team starts to crack down on them too?? or maybe Erdogan will find a way to spin this and make the opposition look weak? anyway, can't deny the hdp's move is kinda clever

the hdp's move is like a switch being flipped - now the kurdish minority has more power than ever ... erdogan's been cracking down on them for years, trying to keep their influence under wraps, but it seems that might not be enough now . kilicdaroglu's got this whole nation alliance thing going on and he's got a shot at taking down erdogan - the thought of it is both exciting and terrifying ... maybe this is the change turkey needs? or maybe it'll just lead to more power struggles like we've seen before . one thing's for sure, the outcome of these elections will be felt globally and will likely have major repercussions for the region

Erdogan's gonna face some stiff competition in the next election! The HDP's decision not to field their own candidate is like a game-changer, you feel? It's like they're handing the opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu a free pass to take on Erdogan. I mean, Kilicdaroglu is already looking pretty strong as the main rival, and now he's got the HDP's support behind him!

And let's be real, the Turkish government has been cracking down on the HDP for ages, but this move might just level the playing field. I'm not saying it'll definitely change Erdogan's fate, but it's definitely a wild card. Plus, if Kilicdaroglu wins, it could be a major blow to the Kurds and their representation in Turkey. It's like they're getting a chance to breathe some fresh air after years of being under Erdogan's microscope.

The thing is, this election is gonna be super closely watched globally because Turkey's got some big shoes to fill when it comes to regional relations and international diplomacy. So, we'll just have to wait and see what happens!

Erdogan's gonna get roasted by the Kurds! The pro-Kurdish party just decided not to run their own candidate, which is like giving Erdogan a free pass to lose to Kilicdaroglu. I mean, come on, Erdogan's been cracking down on the HDP for years and this is how he responds? It's like he thinks the Kurds are gonna just sit back and let him win. But analysts say the HDP's influence might be exactly what it takes to take down Erdogan. Maybe the Turkish people are finally waking up and saying, "Hey, we're not buying into your authoritarian politics, Erdogan!" The outcome of this election is going to be HUGE, and I'm hyped!

Erdogan's chances just got SLAMMED ! The HDP not fielding a candidate is like a WILD CARD that could throw the whole game off! Erdogan's been trying to squash the Kurdish minority for years, but now they're FIGHTING BACK . With Kilicdaroglu as a contender, it's like he's got two chances against one opponent - not cool . The HDP's decision is like a BOLD MOVE that could make all the difference in this election. Turkey's future hangs in the balance and I'm LOW-KEY excited to see how it plays out !

I'm kinda surprised that the HDP isn't fielding a candidate, it sounds like they're trying to play both sides here. Erdogan's been cracking down on them hard, but if they think Kemal Kilicdaroglu is their best bet against him, then maybe that strategy will pay off for them... The Turkish people have been feeling the squeeze under Erdogan and this might be a chance for change. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly and we get to see some positive changes come out of it

The way I see it is that this decision by the HDP to not field a candidate is like throwing a wildcard into the game . Erdogan's main rival, Kilicdaroglu, might just get some extra votes from Kurdish supporters who are looking for an alternative to Erdogan's rule . On one hand, it's not ideal for the HDP as they're giving up their chance to have a direct say in the election . But on the other hand, if they can swing enough votes towards Kilicdaroglu, that could be a game-changer . It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out and what happens to Turkey's political landscape .