Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas says there is a growing need for a leftist coalition on the eve of the general elections next summer.

Speaking to Turkish news channel NTV Demirtas said BDP did not ruled out an election cooperation with the main opposition party CHP.

“The CHP says it's a social-democrat party but they lack perspective about the most important problems of the country. The main opposition party must gain it's social-democrat identity back. If they regain their social-democrat perspective on Kurdish question, Alevite's, workers problems then a democratic coalition may be formed. Cooperation in the upcoming elections can be a part of this” Demirtas said.

He pointed the “Olive Branch” movement in Italy among the leftist parties as an example for Turkey’s CHP, ÖDEP, EMEP, SDP, HAKPAR and HAS Party.

Demirtas said the cooperation they are talking about is not only for an election but for salvation of the left in politics.

“We did not closed doors to CHP. We did not have a discussion which aims to for a coalition that will only target the government and raise the number of MPs. These discussions (on an election cooperation) shows us the need for a democratic coalition” Demirtas said.

CHP and BDP officials are continuing discussions on an election alliance. Predecessors of the two parties -- the Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP) and the People’s Labor Party (HEP) -- entered into an alliance in the 1991 elections.

HEP members resigned from the SHP after five months, and founded the Democracy Party (DEP).