Ankara corridors stir: Which alliances has the İYİ Party closed the door to?

Following MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statement regarding the reorganization of political parties and the electoral system, new alliance scenarios have returned to the agenda in Ankara's political corridors. While there is talk of nationalist parties potentially coming together in right-wing politics, and claims that the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) could be added to the Saadet Party-DEVA Party-Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) axis, it is noted that the İYİ Party, which is mentioned in these calculations, remains distant from the current formulas.

According to a report by Cumhuriyet, İYİ Party sources emphasize that the party is not seeking a ready-made alliance as it did in previous election periods, but that this approach should not be interpreted as "the party will definitely enter the election alone." Within the party leadership, the view prevails that it would not be correct to announce a binding stance before the election calendar and political conditions are clarified.

DISTANT TO A NATIONALIST BLOC ALLIANCE

In the corridors, claims are being made that the İYİ Party, Victory Party (Zafer Partisi), National Path Party (Milli Yol Partisi), Independent Turkey Party (BTP), Kutlu Party, and Key Party (Anahtar Parti) could meet under the same roof. However, it is stated that there is no concrete work in this direction on the İYİ Party front, and that a distance is being maintained, particularly toward the Victory Party and the Key Party.

Party officials point to the fact that some of these parties were founded by individuals who left the İYİ Party and note the criticisms directed at the party during those separation processes. In this context, it is reported that the assessment within the İYİ Party is: "If they want to unite and the issue is the country, let them come to our party without self-interest."

In a scenario where the İYİ Party remains outside, it is also being discussed that nationalist parties such as the Victory Party, Key Party, National Path Party, BTP, and Kutlu Party could seek cooperation among themselves. Representatives of these parties are expected to come together within the scope of "alliance negotiations."

A possible electoral cooperation between the "New Path" (Yeni Yol) structure formed by the Saadet Party, DEVA Party, and Future Party, and the New Welfare Party is another topic in the corridors. Against claims that the İYİ Party could also be included in this axis, party sources state that there is no such alliance search at present. It is noted that the İYİ Party is not keen on the idea of having a pre-constructed alliance model imposed on the party.

It is stated that one of the issues the party considers in potential collaborations is its stance on the regulation known in the public as the "framework law." It is noted that the İYİ Party is therefore distant from the CHP and New Path, which support the law; however, it is also mentioned that the presence of deputies within New Path who voted "no" to the regulation could open the door to different evaluations in the future.

"THERE IS NO POINT IN GIVING YOUR OPPONENT SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY"

İYİ Party sources also find it strategically disadvantageous for alliance discussions to be conducted publicly at an early stage and in detail. In party corridors, it is assessed that the opposition making its plans visible in advance while discussions on the electoral system are ongoing could provide an advantage to the ruling power.

Party sources made the assessment: "If you explain your strategy to your opponents in advance, they will take their precautions accordingly. Especially when they have all the resources of the state at their disposal, there is no point in giving your opponent such an opportunity."

For this reason, the view is expressed within the İYİ Party that frequent alliance statements by parties that have not yet completed their organization could create unnecessary expectations among voters and narrow the space for political bargaining. According to the current picture, while the İYİ Party positions itself outside the two main bloc scenarios discussed in right-wing politics, it follows a line that does not completely close the door to possible collaborations but stands against "alliance imposition."

News Source: 12punto