Demirtaş hints at standing down

Mahmut Lıcalı
 
It has been learnt that, with his party’s third ordinary congress scheduled for 11 February, HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş will not stand for re-election and will make a public announcement to this effect today. Despite calls from the HDP’s adminstration and base for Demirtaş to stand for re-election, it is said that Demirtaş has taken this decision given that his own situation remains uncertain and so as to unburden the party. As work continues within the HDP on the party’s third ordinary congress, a surprise decision has come from HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who has been detained in Edirne Prison for more than a year.
 
From what has been gleaned, following debate within the party that has continued for some time in the runup to the HDP’s third ordinary congress scheduled for 11 February over Demirtaş’s candidacy, the prevailing view was that Demirtaş should stand for re-election. With the expectation predominating among both party administration and the party base that Demirtaş would stand for re-election, Demirtaş has decided not to do so. With Demirtaş seemingly of the view that the HDP has been devastated for the duration of his detention and that the HDP is far more important than himself, it is said that, in view of this, he will not stand for re-election as co-chair at the congress given that his own situation remains uncertain and so as to unburden the party. With this decision by Demirtaş giving rise to consternation in the party, the party adminstration has opened discussion over granting Demirtaş the title of honorary chair. On the other hand, Demirtaş’s repeat candidacy for the president in the 2019 elections is currently being mooted. The meeting of HDP parliamentarians whose stated venue had previously been Ankara will take place today in Diyarbakır. The principal item on the agenda at the meeting slated to last for two days is Demirtaş’s decision not to stand and who the new co-chairs are to be. Demirtaş intimated to the party adiminstration last October that, if need be, he could stand down and could serve on the party assembly. However, the opinion formed in the party that they should continue on their way under Demirtaş.