'If we, Kurds and Romany, join hands, we will win'
ANTALYA (DİHA) - The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) manifesto for the June 7th parliamentary elections mirrors its resolve to embrace different segments of society in order to reach its ambitious goal of exceeding the 10 percent election threshold.
Out of the 550 seats in the parliament, nominees for 268 of them were allocated to women by the HDP as one of the party’s priorities was gender equality. The HDP list and manifesto together present a portrait of the "other Turkey" not seen in those of the mainstream parties. The party hopes to present its most serious challenge yet against the ruling AKP in Turkey's June election.
'HDP doesn't discriminate among 72 nations'
One part of this "unseen side" is Romany who are residing in Mediterranean province of Antalya. Romany people think that HDP must be at the parliament. "I am voting for the CHP for 54 years, but I will vote HDP at this election," Romani citizen İbrahim Ok (74) said. He added, "There is not any discrimination in the HDP. HDP doesn't discriminate among 72 nations HDP is party of everybody. Certainly, it must be in the parliament. "
'We supported parties like AKP and CHP, benefiting nothing'
HDP has come to become voice of oppressed, to become remedy of desperate peoples, underlined another Romany resident named Yaşar Karadağ. "All the peoples will benefit from the HDP. We supported parties like AKP and CHP before, but we have not benefitted anything. We will back HDP this times. We have been otherized in the society for years. HDP defines is very well with our identity. If we join hands, we will win," stated Karadağ.
'HDP is party of all oppressed'
New Labour Self-Thracian Romany Union Head İbrahim Dalkıran lives in Antalya for 25 years. Dalkıran defined the HDP as the party of all the oppressed peoples and beliefs. He called on all Romany citizens and other oppresed peoples to support and vote HDP in June 7th elections.
(nt)
