There is no Green Party in Turkey. Erdogan is the right wing conservative and an Islamist has been running & ruining the country since 2002. The left wing is also not that bright, sort of similar to establishment Democrats in the States. So, as an atheist, vegan, social democratic voter who will I choose at this election?
To be clear, I didn't vote in the last ten years just because I didn't think it would make any difference. Plus, I was being lazy. This time, I want to vote my conscious. I want to vote for what is best at the moment. It doesn't have to be an ideological candidate hence there isn't one.
Ahmet Sik, is an award winning independent journalist who had been jailed multiple times by different administrations through out the years. He is running for the congress from the reign of Istanbul within the HDP. HDP is a left leaning, Kurdish party. My opinion on that is very ignorant, I am sure. However, when I've heard his reason to run from HDP sounded very logical and practical considering the circumstances we are in. A stronger HDP means weaker AKP. HDP passing the barrage of the congress means 60-80 congressman will be taken from AKP and be given to HDP.
CHP, central left wing party's candidate Muharrem Ince seems to be the remaining candidate for the presidency at the second tour, if there is one. To make one, voting is crucial so it doesn't matter my vote makes any difference or not, what matters is that it counts as one.
So, I am supporting Ahmet Sik's strategy by voting for the Muharrem Ince as the president and HDP for the congress.
I don't know much about HDP, and I don't think I count on them much at all, but again this is not an ideological election, it is a strategical one at this point. I would still vote for the Green Party in the States, however. Here, with the two party systems, nothing makes much difference the establishment does what the oligarchs wants, as Bernie Sanders claims, but that would be the vote of my conscious and from now on I am willing to show up, be seen and count as one of the many. And that's what matters, from my point. For the rest, we shall work, wait and see. I am hopeful this time. Darkness can't last forever. Depression of 16 years must end at some point. I miss secular yet imperfect Turkey.