Crisis between alliance partners AKP and MHP spills over into live broadcast

The Elazığ Police Department recently conducted a series of operations against AKP-run municipalities.

First, the AKP mayor of Elazığ's Mollakendi district, Mehmet Enis Doğan, was arrested in a prostitution operation.

"REMINISCENT OF FETO-STYLE OPERATIONS"

Immediately afterward, a corruption operation was carried out at the Elazığ Municipality. In an embezzlement investigation targeting the municipality's Hayme Ana Women's Entrepreneurship Cooperative, 6 people were arrested, and Deputy Mayor Nazif Bilginoğlu was summoned to testify. The consecutive operations just before the elections sparked reactions within the AKP. 

According to a report by Barış Terkoğlu from Cumhuriyet, allegations have emerged that MHP members within the police and judiciary are conducting operations against the AKP in Elazığ, where the two parties are running separately in the elections.

While these events were unfolding, an accusation also came from academic Prof. Dr. Orhan Özbey. Özbey, who works at Elazığ University and was a former parliamentary candidate for the MHP, accused the Elazığ Police of being linked to FETÖ, stating, "The timing of the Police Department is very suspicious! It is reminiscent of FETÖ-style operations."

Following these statements and reactions, new developments have occurred.

"WE EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO THE POLICE"

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Elazığ Provincial Chairman Yunus Bal issued a press statement saying that a former MHP parliamentary candidate did not represent them.

In his statement, Bal expressed support for the operations conducted by the Elazığ Police Department: "As a result of the successful peace and security practices of our Elazığ Police Department, it is observed that crime rates have decreased by 27 percent compared to the same period last year, and no criminal focus has been given any breathing room.

On this occasion, we first of all express our gratitude to our Provincial Police Chief Adnan Karayel and all our police forces on behalf of the people of Elazığ for their selfless service, working day and night at the risk of their lives, and we wish them safety."

"IF THE DEM PARTY FLAG IS RAISED IN KARAKOÇAN, WE WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU"

The AKP-MHP tension in Elazığ was not limited to police operations. MHP Elazığ Deputy Semih Işıkver participated in a live broadcast on Kanal Fırat, which broadcasts from Elazığ.

During the broadcast, Işıkver addressed AKP Elazığ Deputy Erol Keleş. Işıkver stated, "You are not putting in the same effort to win Karakoçan, which is about to be taken by the DEM Party, as you are to take the Sivrice Municipality, which is held by the MHP. If the DEM Party wins the Karakoçan district, Erol Keleş should go and answer for it."

Işıkver took his criticism of the AKP a step further, saying, "What does it matter if you take Sivrice from the MHP or not? But if a DEM Party flag is raised there (in Karakoçan), neither the nation's conscience nor we will forgive you; I will not forgive you, and the people of Elazığ will not forgive you."

CAUSED DISCOMFORT WITHIN THE MHP

In Elazığ and its districts, the AKP and MHP are entering the elections separately. The Sivrice district of Elazığ is currently governed by an MHP mayor. It is reported that the call made by AKP Elazığ MP Erol Keleş to village headmen and citizens in the Sivrice district, urging them not to vote for the MHP, has caused discomfort within the MHP.

In Karakoçan, where there is a possibility of the DEM Party winning, the MHP had withdrawn its candidate to support the AKP's candidate. The MHP deputy effectively claimed that while the AKP is fighting to take Sivrice, which is currently held by the MHP, it is not putting up the same fight against the DEM Party in Karakoçan.

News Source: 12punto