Free Cause Party–People's Alliance relations

The Free Cause Party–People's Alliance relations refer to the relations between the Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR) and the People's Alliance (CUMHUR), which have been a topic of controversy.

In October 2021, Hüseyin Yılmaz of HÜDA PAR criticised the ruling AKP–MHP coalition for what he described as an unwillingness to provide equality for Kurds, and argued that granting equality would be sufficient for the PKK to end its operations.^[1] During the same period, the People's Alliance supported the closure case against the HDP, while HÜDA PAR stated that it opposed closing the party.^[2] Media reports also discussed the possibility of cooperation between HÜDA PAR and the HDP, including statements indicating openness to dialogue.^[3] HÜDA PAR figures later criticised the HDP for what they described as intolerance and insistence on being the sole representative of Kurds, which they cited among the reasons cooperation did not materialise.^[4]

Ahead of the 2023 Turkish presidential election, HÜDA PAR announced support for the People's Alliance; commentators noted ideological differences between HÜDA PAR and other alliance parties, including positions on Kurdish-language status, constitutional identity provisions, and state structure.^[5] In April 2023, MHP politician Celal Adan stated that HÜDA PAR was not part of the alliance and that its candidates were running on the AKP list rather than as an alliance component.^[6] HÜDA PAR politician Serkan Ramanlı responded by criticising the MHP and asserting that the only party HÜDA PAR should have allied with was the DEM Party.^[7] AKP politician Bülent Turan similarly said that HÜDA PAR was not formally included in the People's Alliance and that it had decided to support President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.^[8] In March 2023, HÜDA PAR announced that it would contest the parliamentary election on the AKP list.^[9] In the same period, the New Welfare Party announced that it would not join the AKP-led alliance.^[10]

In April–May 2023, HÜDA PAR leader Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu drew public criticism following remarks about constitutional changes and terminology used to describe the Turkish flag.^[11][12][13] AKP politician Tuğrul Türkeş and BBP leader Mustafa Destici publicly criticised HÜDA PAR in this context; Destici also described Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.^[14][15] In March 2023, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli stated that HÜDA PAR had no relation to Hezbollah and that it rejected terrorism.^[16] In May 2023, Yapıcıoğlu was criticised after stating in an interview that he did not describe the PKK or Hezbollah as terrorist organisations.^[17]

Politicians including Doğu Perinçek and Sinan Oğan criticised the AKP-led alliance for cooperating with HÜDA PAR, arguing that its programme conflicted with their positions on national identity and territorial integrity.^[18][19] Later in the election period, both Perinçek and Oğan publicly supported Erdoğan in the presidential runoff.^[20][21]

In April 2023, reports stated that the MHP did not send an Eid greeting to HÜDA PAR, despite sending one to other parties including the CHP.^[22] T24 later reported that Bahçeli and Yapıcıoğlu were both invited to the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant opening ceremony and that a disagreement about appearing together led to Yapıcıoğlu not attending.^[23]

In 2024, Yapıcıoğlu described the AKP as an electoral opponent and said that HÜDA PAR supported the People's Alliance in 2023 primarily due to its opposition to the CHP, which he accused of pursuing assimilationist policies toward Kurds.^[24]

In January 2023, Ümit Özdağ of the Victory Party criticised both major alliances, including cooperation with the HDP and HÜDA PAR, and alleged links between HÜDA PAR and Hezbollah.^[25] In March 2023, Rudaw reported that the Victory Party applied to the Court of Cassation seeking the closure of HÜDA PAR.^[26]