Iraqi Kurdish official urges HDP to reconsider policies

ERBIL, Iraq

Hemin Hawrami, head of foreign relations at the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said results of Turkey’s general elections on Nov. 1 – which saw the Justice and Development (AK) Party secure an outright majority – showed that Kurds support stability.

“The votes for the Justice and Development (AK) Party delivered a message that Kurds support stability and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) should understand this message well,” Hawrami told Anadolu Agency, stressing that the AK Party won a majority by securing most of the Kurdish vote.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) came second with 25.3 percent, followed by the Nationalist Movement Party at 11.9 percent and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) at 10.7 percent.

According to preliminary results, the AK Party won over 49 percent of the votes, a higher proportion than predictions by opinion polls. The party won 317 seats in the 550-member Turkish parliament.

“We see that the AK Party came in first place in cities where Kurds have a dense population. AK Party succeeded to take 67 deputies. HDP took only 46 deputies,” Hawrami said.

“Killing and death are never the solution,” Hawrami said, criticizing the PKK terrorist group’s decision to start a conflict that has affected HDP’s popularity.

Since the AK Party acquired a single party rule, it will be able to solve the Kurdish issue and take faster steps toward democratization, Hawrami added.

The Nov. 1 snap vote was called following an inconclusive general election in June, which saw no party win an outright majority. Months of subsequent talks between parties had failed to produce a coalition government.

ERBIL, Iraq

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) came second with 25.3 percent, followed by the Nationalist Movement Party at 11.9 percent and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) at 10.7 percent.

According to preliminary results, the AK Party won over 49 percent of the votes, a higher proportion than predictions by opinion polls. The party won 317 seats in the 550-member Turkish parliament.

“We see that the AK Party came in first place in cities where Kurds have a dense population. AK Party succeeded to take 67 deputies. HDP took only 46 deputies,” Hawrami said.

“Killing and death are never the solution,” Hawrami said, criticizing the PKK terrorist group’s decision to start a conflict that has affected HDP’s popularity.

Since the AK Party acquired a single party rule, it will be able to solve the Kurdish issue and take faster steps toward democratization, Hawrami added.