YRP's 'local election' reaction to AKP: 'While they said you couldn't get 1 percent...'

The Yeniden Refah Party (YRP), which closed its doors to an alliance with the AKP in the local elections, became the third-largest party across Turkey on March 31, receiving 6.19 percent of the vote.

Winning 1 metropolitan municipality, one province, and 39 districts, the YRP caused the AKP to lose votes and municipalities in many electoral districts.

Reactions from AKP circles regarding the YRP's stance during and after the local elections continue to emerge.

ERBAKAN WAS NOT INVITED

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with the chairmen of several political parties at the April 23 reception in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

Although he was present at the reception, Yeniden Refah Party Chairman Fatih Erbakan was not invited to the tea conversation attended by the chairmen of the CHP, DSP, and HÜDA PAR, as well as representatives of the MHP.

According to insider information featured in the Duvar Arkası section of Gazete Duvar, YRP officials say that Erdoğan may be 'hurt and angry' at the Yeniden Refah Party due to the local elections, but that this behavior is a major mistake on the part of the AKP that stems from their defeat, and is also disrespectful to the voters.

Pointing out that the assessments by AKP members that “If you had supported us in the local elections, we wouldn't have lost some cities” are not entirely accurate, a party official stated that calculations are constantly being made incorrectly and explained the behind-the-scenes of the failed cooperation talks as follows:

“They told us, 'You got 3 percent in the May 14 general elections, and you got that vote because you were part of the People's Alliance, but you won't even get 1 percent in the local elections, so why should we give you municipalities?' When they rejected our demands for municipalities and only wanted to offer us council member positions, the cooperation did not happen. The result: While they said we couldn't get 1 percent, we reached a vote share of 7 percent. If this had been a general election, we would have secured 35 seats in parliament. They are creating excuses for the defeat they experienced and making new mistakes, but the voters will continue to punish these behaviors.”

News Source: 12punto