The Labour and Freedom Alliance (Turkish: Emek ve Özgürlük İttifakı, Kurdish: Hevkariya Ked û Azadiyê) is a left-wing electoral alliance in Turkey, formed by Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), Labour Party (EMEP), Labourist Movement Party (EHP), Social Freedom Party (TÖP) and Federation of Socialist Assemblies (SMF). The alliance declared its foundation on 25 August 2022. In their declaration, the member parties jointly proclaimed that the alliance aims "equality, freedom, fraternity, peace and democracy for the Turkish society."
Labour and Freedom Alliance Emek ve Özgürlük İttifakı | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 25 August 2022 |
| Ideology |
|
| Political position | Left-wing[A] |
| Members |
|
| Colors | Red and purple |
| Slogan | Together we will succeed! (Turkish: Hep birlikte başaracağız!) |
| Grand National Assembly | 63 / 600 |
| Metropolitan municipalities | 3 / 30 |
| Provinces | 7 / 51 |
| District municipalities | 66 / 973 |
| Belde Municipalities | 10 / 390 |
^ A: A broad left-wing alliance, it includes some far-left factions. | |
Foundation
The initial process of alliance negotiations started with meetings of individual parties. In early 2022, HDP openly called for left-wing parties to build a political alliance and invited TİP, EMEP, EHP, TÖP, SMF, SOL Parti and TKP for a preliminary gathering and discussion. SOL Parti immediately announced that they would not participate in discussions, citing disagreements on timing and strategy, while TKP declared their withdrawal after the first meeting. Although part of the meetings throughout, Halkevleri decided to not take part in the final formation of the alliance due to their reluctance to focus on upcoming elections, although adding that they would support the goals of the alliance.
The parties declared that the political program and the roadmap of the alliance will be announced in Haliç Congress Center, İstanbul on 24 September 2022. Eighty literary figures from Turkey, including names like Murathan Mungan, Zülfü Livaneli, İnci Aral and Ahmet Ümit, signed a public declaration to support the alliance's foundation and its political goals. On 22 March 2023, the parties declared that they would not field a presidential candidate for the 2023 Turkish presidential election, boosting the chances of the Republican People's Party and Nation Alliance candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The alliance later endorsed Kılıçdaroğlu on 27 April 2023 in opposition to incumbent President Erdoğan's campaign.
Ideology
The member parties declared they would announce the alliance's guiding principles and political programme in September 2022. The leader of EMEP, Ercüment Akdeniz pointed out that the strengthening of secularism, the democratization of the country, equal citizenship rights and putting an end to the economic, societal and environmental exploitation are the main political focuses while adding that the alliance should aim to expand beyond its current members. Erkan Baş, leader of TİP, maintained that the alliance should constitute a credible alternative for "millions of people who are not (properly) represented by Nation or People's Alliance" and successfully encompass "workers, young people, farmers, women, LGBTI community, Kurds and Alevis".
Per the political declaration of the alliance, the parties offer an egalitarian, environmentalist, democratic and feminist vision for Turkey, while denouncing the pro-business, crony capitalist, neo-liberal and authoritarian practices of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments.
Composition
| Party | Abbr. | Leader | Ideology | Position | Seats in parliament | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi | DEM Party | Tülay Hatimoğulları Tuncer Bakırhan | Regionalism Green politics Direct democracy Left-libertarianism Left-wing populism | Centre-left to left-wing | 56 / 600 | |
| Peoples' Democratic Party Halkların Demokratik Partisi | HDP | Cahit Kırkazak Sultan Özcan | Minority rights Democratic socialism Social democracy Regionalism | Centre-left to left-wing | 0 / 600 | |
| Workers' Party of Turkey Türkiye İşçi Partisi | TİP | Erkan Baş | Communism Marxism–Leninism Left-wing populism | Left-wing to far-left | 3 / 600 | |
| Democratic Regions Party Demokratik Bölgeler Partisi | DBP | Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar Keskin Bayındır | Kurdish nationalism Social democracy Democratic socialism Regionalism | Left-wing | 2 / 600 | |
| Labour Party Emek Partisi | EMEP | Seyit Aslan | Communism Marxism–Leninism Hoxhaism Anti-revisionism | Far-left | 2 / 600 | |
| Labourist Movement Party Emekçi Hareket Partisi | EHP | Hakan Öztürk | Communism Marxism–Leninism | Far-left | 0 / 600 | |
| Social Freedom Party Toplumsal Özgürlük Partisi | TÖP | Şilan Sürmeli | Libertarian socialism Eco-socialism Socialist feminism LGBTQ rights Minority rights | Left-wing to far-left | 0 / 600 | |
| Federation of Socialist Assemblies Sosyalist Meclisler Federasyonu | SMF | Collective leadership | Communism Maoism | Far-left | N/A | |
See also
- Union of Socialist Forces
- United June Movement
- Labour, Democracy and Freedom Bloc
- Thousand Hope Candidates
- Peoples' Democratic Congress
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