
On August 19, 2019, Turkish authorities relieved three mayors in the Kurdish-majority southeast from their posts based on alleged ties to the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The three mayors align with the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) which supports Kurdish aims in general but denies ties to the PKK. As a part of the crackdown, over 400 people were detained based on alleged connections to the PKK. These moves by the central government and by extension the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) may be efforts to weaken a coalition of opposition parties. Leaders of the country’s strongest opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), made statements opposing the crackdown and in support of the HDP mayors.