Selahattin Demirtaş, the former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has played a significant role in Turkey’s political landscape, particularly in relation to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His rhetoric and political stance regarding Erdoğan have evolved significantly over the years. From his famous 2015 declaration, “We will not let you become president,” to his more recent statement in February 2025, “May God grant him a long and healthy life,” Demirtaş’s shifting discourse reflects broader political transformations in Turkey, changing dynamics within the Kurdish political movement, and strategic recalibrations in response to domestic and regional developments.
The 2015 Elections and the “We Will Not Let You Become President” Statement
In the run-up to the June 7, 2015 general elections, Demirtaş made one of his most defining statements: “We will not let you become president.” This was a direct challenge to Erdoğan’s ambitions to shift Turkey’s parliamentary system to an an executive presidency, a move that the opposition—especially the HDP—saw as a step toward authoritarianism.
Demirtaş framed this opposition as part of a broader ideological struggle. He positioned the HDP as a counterforce to the Turkish-Islamist, neoliberal, and centralist vision that Erdoğan promoted. Instead, Demirtaş advocated for a leftist, pluralist, and decentralized governance model that would ensure greater autonomy for Turkey’s Kurdish population, labor rights, and gender equality. The HDP’s success in the elections, securing 80 seats and blocking the AKP from obtaining a parliamentary majority, was seen as a major blow to Erdoğan’s ambitions.
However, this political victory was short-lived. The collapse of the peace process between the Turkish state and the PKK, the resurgence of violence in the Kurdish regions, and the November 2015 snap elections, which resulted in the AKP regaining its majority, changed the political landscape dramatically. This period also marked the beginning of a severe crackdown on HDP politicians, culminating in the arrests of Demirtaş and other party members in 2016 on charges related to terrorism after the staged coup attempt.
The Political Repression and Demirtaş’s Imprisonment
Since his imprisonment in 2016, Demirtaş has remained a central figure in Kurdish and opposition politics despite limited access to public discourse. From prison, he has written extensively, providing political commentary, literary works, and strategic reflections on Turkey’s trajectory. Over the years, his tone toward Erdoğan and the Turkish state has evolved, particularly as political realities within Turkey have shifted.
The staged 2016 coup attempt and subsequent state of emergency allowed Erdoğan to consolidate power further, eventually realizing his goal of establishing a presidential system through the 2017 constitutional referendum and the 2018 presidential elections. The HDP, meanwhile, faced increasing suppression, with many of its elected mayors removed from office and replaced by government-appointed trustees.
The Shift in Rhetoric: “May God Grant Him a Long and Healthy Life”
Against this backdrop, Demirtaş’s recent remarks in February 2025, in which he expressed hope for Erdoğan’s long life, is strikingly different from his 2015 stance. Some may interpret this as a pragmatic shift, while others see it as a reflection of changing political calculations within the Kurdish movement.
Demirtaş’s latest comments came in response to discussions about a renewed peace initiative involving Erdoğan, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, and PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. His statement, “Erdoğan, Bahçeli, and Öcalan—may God grant them long and healthy lives. At this final stage of their lives, I will do everything I can to ensure that these three leaders, who have taken the initiative for Middle East peace and historical Kurdish-Turkish peace, succeed.” was framed within a broader appeal for peace, emphasizing the need for reconciliation and an end to armed conflict. This represents a stark contrast to his 2015 confrontation, as Demirtaş may now see dialogue as the more viable path forward, given the increasing authoritarian grip of the Turkish state and the diminishing space for political opposition.
Demirtaş’s Meeting with Mehmet Metiner
Yeni Şafak columnist Mehmet Metiner recently shared details of his two-hour meeting with Demirtaş in Edirne F-Type Prison, offering further insights into Demirtaş’s evolving stance. During the discussion, Demirtaş reportedly emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan’s call for disarmament extends beyond the PKK in Turkey and northern Iraq, including the YPG and other armed Kurdish groups.
Metiner’s meeting with Demirtaş was likely conducted at the request of Erdoğan and with his permission, as the Turkish government is closely monitoring and possibly guiding discussions on the Kurdish issue. Metiner also highlighted that Demirtaş stressed the necessity of unconditional disarmament, rejecting the notion that democratization should be seen as a precondition for laying down arms. Instead, Demirtaş advocated for a political shift away from violence, underscoring that peace benefits everyone. His statement, “We are not making demands; we are making promises. We promise to build and expand our state and country together,” further indicates that he sees this process as based on a new political paradigm rather than simply an effort to negotiate rights from a position of weakness.
Metiner described Demirtaş as a mature and strategic thinker, arguing that his experience and intellect should be utilized in the peace process. This might suggest that, rather than being an uncompromising opposition figure, Demirtaş might be positioning himself as a bridge-builder for a new phase of Kurdish-Turkish relations.
Factors Behind the Shift
Several factors might explain this change in Demirtaş’s rhetoric:
- – Political Realism: Over the past decade, Erdoğan has consolidated power to an unprecedented degree. The failure of opposition alliances in elections and the state’s heavy-handed suppression of dissent have made political pragmatism a necessity. Demirtaş’s change in tone may reflect an acknowledgment that engagement with Erdoğan, rather than outright confrontation, may be the only viable strategy to achieve political goals.
- – The Kurdish Question and Öcalan’s Role: Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned PKK leader, has historically played a key role in peace negotiations. If a new political initiative emerges from İmralı, Demirtaş may be signaling his willingness to support such efforts.
- – The Need for a Political Solution: After years of armed conflict, repression, and failed peace talks, the Kurdish movement may be shifting toward a new paradigm, emphasizing political engagement over militant resistance. Demirtaş’s rhetoric may be aimed at preparing Kurdish public opinion for a different approach.
- – Domestic and Regional Dynamics: The Kurdish political movement is also influenced by broader Middle Eastern geopolitics, including Turkey’s military operations in Syria, shifting U.S. policies, and internal Kurdish divisions. Demirtaş’s statement may be part of a larger realignment in response to these factors.
Final assessment
From “We will not let you become president” in 2015 to “May God grant him a long and healthy life” in February 2025, Selahattin Demirtaş’s changing rhetoric reflects the deep transformations in Turkish politics, the Kurdish struggle, and opposition strategies. While in 2015 he positioned himself as a firm opponent of Erdoğan’s authoritarian ambitions, today he appears to be adopting a more conciliatory tone, possibly in anticipation of new political developments.
Whether this shift leads to genuine reconciliation or is merely a tactical maneuver remains to be seen. However, it underscores the complex realities of political struggle in Turkey, where ideological commitments often intersect with strategic necessities in unpredictable ways.
