Opposition Kurdish groups fear that a victory for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the presidential elections could strengthen the state’s years-long campaign of repression against them, especially with rising nationalist rhetoric ahead of the elections scheduled for Sunday. The Kurds, who make up about one-fifth of Turkey's population, are seen as potentially decisive for the opposition, which hopes to end Erdoğan's 20-year rule. However, support for Erdoğan remains high before the elections, having surpassed opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the first round, despite the backing of six parties along with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).
For some Kurdish voters, there are no greater risks, as Erdoğan intensifies his nationalist tone in an attempt to win over more voters before the runoff. Today, pro-Kurdish parties in Turkey announced their support for Kılıçdaroğlu in the presidential runoff without naming him directly.
Officials from the HDP and their allies in the Green Left Party stated they seek change in the runoff, maintaining their position without specifically mentioning Kılıçdaroğlu. The HDP's co-chair, Pervin Buldan, indicated they will vote on Sunday to end Erdoğan's "one-man system," adding that "the strange system established by Erdoğan and his partners has caused the societal problems we suffer from; the vote on May 28 will determine whether this strange system continues or not."
Buldan also criticized the campaign rhetoric that utilizes migrants for political purposes and the actions of state-appointed trustees, saying, "The refugee and migrant issue can only be solved through the struggle for peace against war policies." Meanwhile, the co-president of the HDP, Medhat Sancar, called on those who did not vote in the first round to "head to the polls in the runoff to overthrow Erdoğan."
