Shadow ministry debate in the People's Alliance: Decisions are heard from MHP before AKP

A striking trend within the ruling bloc has recently caused unease in AKP corridors. The fact that critical decisions regarding state administration and regulations that have not yet been announced to the public are sometimes voiced by MHP figures before the AKP has raised questions within the party about the "source of the information flow."

According to behind-the-scenes information shared by journalist Nuray Babacan, the fact that initial statements regarding the reconciliation process, pandemic amnesty, the enforcement system, and various legislative regulations often come from the MHP front has become a subject of serious discomfort within the ruling party.

"IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO HEAR DECISIONS FROM THE JUNIOR PARTNER"

Drawing attention to the ruling party's weakness in state administration, Nuray Babacan stated the following:

"For some time now, there have been examples of the ruling party's weakness in state administration. It no longer surprises anyone to hear about decisions made and work to be done from the junior partner of the People's Alliance."

According to Babacan, decisions on the reconciliation process, pandemic amnesty efforts, and various legislative regulations are often first reflected to the public through MHP officials.

Evaluating this situation, Babacan used the following expression regarding the role of MHP figures:

"It is as if the MHP deputy chairmen are shadow ministers."

According to reports, this situation has caused serious repercussions within the AKP. It is stated that internal party inquiries into which channel and through whom the information is leaked often yield no results.

Babacan conveyed the discomfort experienced by AKP staff with these words:

"Naturally, the inquiries made within the ruling party to find the source and the person responsible for this information sometimes come to nothing. AKP staff are not very pleased to hear about many issues from MHP staff."

The figures announced by MHP Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız during the pandemic amnesty discussions also drew attention. According to Babacan's article, the numbers provided by Yıldız caused astonishment not only within the AKP but also among the bureaucracy.

Babacan described this situation as follows:

“The figures Yıldız gave regarding those who would benefit from the pandemic amnesty surprised even the relevant bureaucrats.”

The figure of 120 thousand people mentioned by Feti Yıldız was not found realistic by AKP staff. According to the same sources: "According to them, the number of those who will benefit gradually will not be 120 thousand as Yıldız said, but will remain around 100 thousand."

THOSE WHO RECEIVED DISCIPLINARY PUNISHMENT ARE EXCLUDED

Limitations regarding the scope of the pandemic amnesty were also included in detail in the article. Babacan drew attention to the situation of prisoners who had received disciplinary punishment.

The article included the following statements:

“It is not just about the crimes excluded from the scope. Prisoners who have received disciplinary punishment cannot benefit from the pandemic amnesty, regardless of what crime they committed. Efforts were made for this group, which was included in previous amnesties, to benefit from the new regulation as well, but no results were achieved.”

According to current data, the picture in prisons was also shared in detail. It was stated that the number of prisoners, which is currently 435 thousand, has fallen to just under 400 thousand, and it is calculated that it will gradually decrease to 335 thousand.

However, it was emphasized that this decrease does not mean that the prisons are emptying:

“This only brings the numbers down to what is called the ‘intensified capacity’ in prisons. In other words, there is no question of the prisons emptying; the occupancy continues exactly as it is. Of course, this excludes those who enter prison every day by committing new crimes.”