MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s words, “Erdoğan in the executive, MHP in the legislature, the People’s Alliance in Turkey, the Turkish century in the world,” continue to be debated in politics. In evaluations made from the AKP front regarding the statement, attention was drawn to MHP’s search to protect its position in Parliament.
According to the report by Nuray Babacan from Nefes newspaper, an AKP source linked Bahçeli’s move to the decline in MHP’s votes. The source made the assessment, “He is planning to have himself carried to power through us.”
The AKP figure argued that an upward trend has been observed in the vote shares of the IYI Party in the recent period, while MHP has been losing votes. Stating that this is why Bahçeli highlights the emphasis on being part of the government, the source expressed that MHP cannot afford to remain outside of Parliament.
In the same assessment, it was commented that MHP’s goal is not to be the leading party in power, but to remain influential in state administration. The source stated that Bahçeli’s words carry the nature of a message to both his own base and his People’s Alliance partner.
In the report, it was conveyed that some AKP members read Bahçeli’s words as a message open to different cooperation options, including a joint list in the new period. However, it was also noted that this approach is not welcomed by everyone within the AKP.
According to what Babacan reported, assessments are also being made that after the July 15 coup attempt, cadres close to MHP became more visible in the police, judiciary, and bureaucracy; and that during this process, MHP gained power within the state and government.
News Source: 12punto
