Formation of "Labor and Freedom Alliance" announced in Turkey

Formation of "Labor and Freedom Alliance" announced in Turkey
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The program of the alliance states that the Kurdish question shall be resolved through democratic and peaceful means, and that the worsening income inequality shall be effectively addressed.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) and five socialist parties and groups in Turkey announced the establishment of a political alliance on Saturday in a gathering attended by thousands of people in Istanbul.

The program of the "Labor and Freedom Alliance" aims to target worsening income inequality through substantial increases in workers' incomes and by reducing the direct and indirect taxes payed by wage earners.

It states that the resolution of the Kurdish question shall be sought through democratic and peaceful means, that the political administration's current policy of war shall be replaced with a policy of dialogue, and that local democracy shall be restored by immediately ending the policy of appointing state trustees in the place of removed elected mayors and local council members.

The six parties also announced that the Turkish President's decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention shall be reversed, and that all possible means shall be provided to support gender equality and women's freedom.

The socialist parties and groups that take part in the alliance are Labor Party (EMEP), Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP), Social Freedom Party (TOP), Labor Movement Party (EHP) and the Federation of Socialist Assemblies (SMF).

As officials of the six parties made addresses in the gathering, the crowd burst into applause when HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan expressed her solidarity with the jailed former HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag.

Duvar's Nergis Demirkaya said that the alliance aims to receive 15% of the popular vote in the coming elections, and that in case it manages to achieve this objective this would make the alliance's stance crucial in all major issues.