Kürkçü: There is a Large Possibility Önder will be Our Candidate for Istanbul

Ertuğrul Kürkçü is one of the four current MPs to join the newly formed HDP

Ertuğrul Kürkçü told reporters that Sırrı Süreyya Önder will most likely be the newly formed Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) candidate for mayor of Istanbul in the upcoming municipal elections next March, according to a report from ANF. Kürkü was speaking on the opening day of the party’s first general congress, where he himself is expected to be elected as the party’s general secretary. Kürkü is currently an MP from Mersin, and like Önder is switching from the the BDP to the HDP. Kürkü spoke on a number of other issues, concerning both the party’s future, its expectations, and its role in the greater social struggle taking place in the country. Below are some translated excerpts from the interview.

On Party’s Role in the Greater Social Struggle

[The party] is one of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress’s (HDK) most important vehicles to carry the political struggle to the both municipal councils and the parliament. The HDK will take a place in the grassroots struggle that is being carried on in social, political and cultural life.

How the Elections Sped up the Formation of the Party

From this perspective whatever shortcomings there are at the beginning will be corrected going forward. But there is no problem in terms of our foundation principals in this regard. And if the party had been founded over a longer period our principals would not have changed.

The Political Goals on the Party

The demands that the HDK built itself around are also the principal demands of the HDP. In order for Turkey to be governed as a social and democratic republic requires that there be substantial revolutionary changes.  In this environment in order for the Kurdish people to be able to govern themselves, and in order to provide for self-governance significant political and administrative reforms need to be carried out; In this environment governments should have autonomy, a new political structure needs to emerge and our objectives of freedom and of the peace which has been struggled for with so much sacrifice certainly must be agreed upon. Turkey’s progression from the climate of cease-fire to an enduring peace, and a political regime that possesses all the rights and freedoms necessary for an enduring peace are the objectives we are struggling for. From the perspective of local administration we will work for a status that offers the possibility that local governments can become fundamentally independent of the center and govern themselves.

On Önder as the Mayoral Candidate for Istanbul
There is a large possibility. If he is he deserves it. However to such an announcement before our debate has taken place would really be at odds with our internal democracy. We will look to approve a candidacy on the foundation of all of our constituents, the entire congress, the party and the Gezi uprising that has today made Istanbul one of the most important centers of debate. The moment we have this consent in our hands then Sırrı Süreyya Önder can be declared our candidate.