Court Lifts Block On Pro-Kurdish HDP Funding In Boost For Opposition

The Turkish Constitutional Court has lifted a block on the state funding of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) in a notable boost for the opposition ahead of the general election, expected on 14 May. The HDP is scheduled to receive TRY539mn (USD29mn) in state funding this year, but the gov't blocked this over allegations that the party is the political wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group. Without this funding the HDP would have found it very difficult to get its (anti-Erdogan) message out effectively.

• It remains to be seen whether the HDP will link up with the opposition Nation Alliance that is seeking to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the election. If a sizeable portion of the HDP's Kurdish electorate votes for Nation Alliance candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu it could put him over the top in terms of vote share.
• However, given the nationalist elements within the Nation Alliance (Meral Aksener's Good Party), the HDP's presence could result in rancour and major disagreement before the election takes place.