The Third Block – The Labour and Freedom Alliance
The Labour and Freedom Alliance is a left-wing electoral alliance in Turkey, established on August 25th, 2022. It is made up of several opposition parties and movements, including the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) as well as other smaller leftist parties, including the Labour Party, Labourist Movement Party, Social Freedom Party, and Federation of Socialist Assemblies. The alliance seeks to challenge the ruling government and promote its platform of democratic socialism, social justice, and human rights.
The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is a political party in Turkey that plays a pivotal role as the locomotive of the Labour and Freedom Alliance, a coalition of various left-wing groups. One of the key strengths of the HDP is its ability to bring a strong voice for the Kurdish population in Turkey, which has historically faced discrimination and marginalization.
It's worth noting that the HDP itself is a coalition of different Kurdish groups, including both leftist and more conservative factions, as well as some Kurdish nationalists. Despite this diverse base, the party has positioned itself as a progressive force, advocating for greater human rights, democracy, and gender equality.
However, the HDP has faced significant legal challenges and political pressure in recent years, particularly due to allegations of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Turkish government has accused the party of being a front for the PKK, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
As a result, the HDP has been subject to numerous arrests and investigations, and is currently facing an ongoing lawsuit in the Turkish Constitutional Court that could potentially result in the party being closed down. Under mounting pressure, the HDP has made the strategic decision to take part in the forthcoming elections as the Green Left Party, in order to sidestep the risk of being precluded from the electoral process.
Despite these challenges, the HDP remains a potent force in Turkish politics and has been a key opposition force in recent years. The party has successfully mobilized a broad coalition of leftist supporters, including labor unions, feminist groups, and environmental activists. The HDP has also made significant gains in elections, winning 11.7% of the vote in the 2018 parliamentary elections, which translated to 56 seats in parliament.
Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), on the other hand, is a socialist political party that was formed in 1961 and played a prominent role in the Turkish left-wing movement in the 1960s and 1970s. The party was disbanded in 1980 following a military coup but was re-established in 2016. TİP has been gaining popularity among a broad spectrum of Turkish youth, including both blue and white-collar workers. The party has been successful in attracting a new generation of supporters who are looking for progressive and leftist alternatives to mainstream politics. One of the key reasons for the TİP's popularity among the youth is its emphasis on social justice and workers' rights. The party has been vocal in its support for labor unions and has campaigned for higher wages, better working conditions, and greater job security. Additionally, the TİP has been active in advocating for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental protection. Furthermore, the TİP's anti-imperialist stance and its support for international solidarity have also resonated with Turkish youth. The party has been vocal in its opposition to Turkish military intervention in Syria and has called for a peaceful solution to the conflict. In addition to their emphasis on progressive values and key issues such as workers' rights and environmental protection, the charisma and sincerity of the TİP's members have also been important factors in the party's growing popularity among Turkish youth. The four TİP members in parliament have been able to effectively communicate their message to voters, resonating with those who are looking for a more principled and genuine political option. Their commitment to social justice and international solidarity, combined with their clear and consistent messaging, has made the TİP stand out in a crowded political landscape. As a result, more and more Turkish youth are turning to the party as a viable alternative to mainstream politics.
As the third major political bloc in Turkish politics, the decision of the Labour and Freedom Alliance to field its own candidate in the presidential election or to endorse a candidate from the Millet Alliance carried significant weight and could have had a considerable impact on the election outcome. While TIP's chair Erkan Baş was unequivocal in his support for Kılıçdaroğlu, the Millet Alliance's chosen candidate, emphasizing the need to secure a first-round victory, the HDP took a more cautious stance, though giving indications of being open to supporting Kiliçdaroglu.
On March 20th, 2023, Kılıçdaroğlu met with HDP co-chairs Mithat Sancar and Pervin Buldan, in what both sides described as a productive meeting and two days later on March 22nd, The Labour and Freedom Alliance made the announcement that it would not field its own candidate in the presidential election, thereby implicitly endorsing Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy. The question of whether the implicit support of The Labour and Freedom Alliance for Kılıçdaroğlu will translate into an explicit endorsement remains unresolved. On the one hand, an implicit endorsement may make it marginally more challenging for the HDP to rally support from various segments of its base, whereas an explicit endorsement of the Millet Alliance candidate by the HDP could create difficulties for IYI party leader Meral Akşener, who has been striving to maintain a delicate balance between the liberal and nationalist wings of her party in the run-up to the elections.
Nevertheless, regardless of whether the HDP eventually lends explicit support to Kılıçdaroğlu or not, the fact that a pro-Kurdish party and the leftist bloc are backing the Millet Alliance - which includes both nationalist and Islamist elements - underscores the enduring potency of anti-Erdoganism as the preeminent "ideology" in Turkey and the dominant driving force behind the opposition actors.