▁as ▁the ▁candidate ▁of ▁the ▁People ' s ▁Democratic ▁Party ▁( H DP ) ▁on ▁ 4 ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁after ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁party ▁had ▁hint ed ▁at ▁his ▁candid acy ▁weeks ▁in ▁advance . ▁Party ▁leader ▁Per vin ▁Bul dan ▁declared ▁that ▁Dem ir ta ş , ▁a ▁ja iled ▁former ▁co - ch air ▁of ▁the ▁H DP , ▁would ▁be ▁leading ▁a ▁five - party ▁" K urd ish ▁al liance " ▁into ▁the ▁general ▁election . ▁ ▁Program ▁▁ ▁Def ending ▁“ No ” ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁Turkish ▁constitution al ▁refer endum ▁ 1 8 ▁proposed ▁am end ments ▁to ▁the ▁Constitution ▁of ▁Turkey ( Full ▁details ) ▁ ▁More ▁Minor ity ▁and ▁Women ’ s ▁rights ▁ ▁Building ▁a ▁country ▁without ▁Capital ism ▁ ▁The ▁support ▁of ▁Turkish ▁membership ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁Union ▁ ▁Foreign ▁policy ▁▁ ▁On ▁European ▁Union – T ur key ▁relations , ▁Dem ir ta ş ▁is ▁known ▁for ▁his ▁long - time ▁support ▁for ▁Turkey ’ s ▁EU ▁acc ession ▁process , ▁foc using ▁on ▁the ▁p ledge ▁to ▁u ph old ▁human ▁rights , ▁local ▁dem ocracy , ▁separation ▁of ▁powers ▁and ▁the ▁rule ▁of ▁law ▁as ▁the ▁main ▁ten ets ▁of ▁his ▁future ▁presiden cy . ▁He ▁distingu ishes ▁himself ▁from ▁other ▁candidates ▁in ▁his ▁un wa ver ing ▁criticism ▁of ▁what ▁he ▁sees ▁as ▁Br uss els ' ▁ne o - li ber al ▁economic ▁ag enda . ▁ ▁E lection