Conservatives, Kurds, Alevis, leftists, liberals and supporters of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, could all come together to form a bloc for the sake of democracy, the jailed former HDP leader told Artı Gerçek news site.

“The current situation is so grave that no single party can emerge from the wreckage on its own,” the 46-year-old lawmaker said.

“However, if political movements can unite around democratic principles and act in unison, then the current deadlock, crisis and destruction can be overcome,” Demirtas said, adding a democratic alliance united within the framework of a new constitution, “could be followed by a democratic coalition after elections.”

Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Islamist AKP, has experienced considerable backsliding in the rule of law and the judiciary, fundamental rights, media freedom, and anti-corruption measures, among other areas. The country scored 31 points out of 100, earning it a status as “not free,” according to the 2019 Freedom in the World report by international rights group Freedom House.

According to Ahval News Agency Demirtas said “the time has come for a named democratic alliance, which maintains an evident program and principles, and is transparent.”

Demirtas was jailed in November 2016 over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group that has waged an armed struggle for Kurdish self-rule in Turkey since 1984.

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