Ufuk Uras, a well-known socialist politician, is considered one of the minds behind the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which is hoping to turn around Turkish politics at Sunday’s parliamentary polls. The former chairman of the Freedom and Solidarity Party, Uras is the co-founder of the Greens and Left Party. In the 2007 general election, he won a seat in parliament as a "common candidate” of the Left. In 2009, he joined forces in parliament with the pro-Kurdish BDP. With only days left to the historic elections where the HDP wants to become the first Kurdish party to win its own seat in parliament, Uras spoke to Rudaw about the elections, the HDP’s chances at the polls and why his own party is backing the HDP.
Rudaw: You are supporting the HDP in the elections as the Greens and the Left Party.
Ufuk Uras: Yes, because the values of the libertarian left are becoming a reality within the HDP. We are also supporting the solution process (peace negotiations between the Kurds and the ruling AKP party). Yet, we were criticized and declared as pro-AKP by the opposition. However , it is possible to support the process while opposing the AKP. Peace is our major priority.
Rudaw: What is your expectation for the HDP?
Ufuk Uras: The libertarian left is different from the traditional left because of its principles. These are: going in and out of power through elections, respect for different identities and beliefs, socially libertarian, egalitarian, eco-minded, participatory and for the restoration of justice. We would like the HDP to have such a profile. What we are trying to do is to adopt the Syriza experience in Greece to the HDP in Turkey. In that context, it would be an anti-regime, anti-system party. People say that the HDP should collaborate with the CHP (People’s Republican Party), yet this is not possible. The CHP is, for example, proposing a neo-liberal, global city concept which is not different from the ones made by the AKP. Therefore, it can’t properly oppose the AKP, and the opposition role would be the responsibility of the HDP.
Rudaw: Is it possible that the HDP would become a libertarian leftist party and the Kurdish movement democratically transformed, while having strong feudal and backward elements within?
Ufuk Uras: Even the emergence of the Kurdish political movement has resulted in the destruction of the feudal elements in the region. Moreover, today half of the HDP is made up of women and one- third of the PKK consists of women as well. Maybe, this cannot be seen as a sign of modernity, but certainly they are much farther than the Kemalists on this issue.
The Kurdish question is not a territorial question alone. In daily life we also meet Kurdish workers and that means ethnic and social issues are linked with each other. Thus, if the HDP could merge the ethnic and social struggle, only then it becomes the party of Turkey -- not an umbrella party, but a real one. The HDP is a project of Turkey.
Rudaw: What is your post-election scenario?
Ufuk Uras: The HDP will pass the election threshold, albeit narrowly and all the tension will end. On the other hand, if it does not, this won’t be the end of the world. The HDP becomes a real party with its increased vote rate and there won’t be any clashes or anything like that. It will start a new campaign for the early elections with a lower or zero threshold.
The AKP can win enough votes to become a single government, but a coalition is also a strong possibility. The CHP or MHP (Nationalistic Movement Party) could be its coalition partner, not the HDP. That would be political suicide for the HDP.
Rudaw: There are claims that a Kurdish parliament would be announced in Diyarbakır if the HDP does not succeed.
Ufuk Uras: I don’t think this is realistic. It will create chaos. Those scenarios are based on the traditional strategy of the PKK in the past. Yet, it has a different one now.
Rudaw: Can we trust the sincerity of the PKK?
Ufuk Uras: That should be put to test, but this is the rational way to go. The PKK has already declared its intention to transform, but the AKP is preventing it because of the fear of losing nationalistic votes. The Kurdish problem is a Middle Eastern problem. Thus, to become a model country in the region Turkey should first solve its own Kurdish problem.
Rudaw: In five years, could the HDP become the main opposition party?
Ufuk Uras: If the HDP completes its transformation, it could. For that, the HDP should practice politics in the parliament independent of Imralı and Qandil. That would gradually ease the concerns of the nationalistic voters.
Rudaw: It seems that the HDP is a project to integrate the Kurds into Turkey. What would be the reaction of the other Kurds in the region to this?
Ufuk Uras: We should be in harmony, both the Turkish Republic and the Kurdish movement, with the other Kurds in the region. For example, I was in Erbil for the modern dance performance of my wife Zeynep Tanbay, and had a chance to see that they have developed a very successful model there. We shouldn’t be in competition with that model. This includes the independence of the KRG. There is no doubt that the KRG is a very important force in fighting against the ISIS. Therefore, if independence would give the KRG more leverage in its fight with ISIS, we should not be in contradiction with this reality. On the other hand, the realities of Turkey are different from Iraq or elsewhere. Therefore, the parties should be in accord with each other’s realities, rather than in competition.
