MHP leader Bahceli refutes claims of rift with President Erdogan’s AK Party
Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli attends his party's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, June 11, 2024, Anadolu Agency
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) an ally of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), on Sunday refuted claims of tensions between the two parties.
Bahceli spoke to reporters after he paid a visit to the grave of Alparslan Turkes, the founder of MHP, following the Eid al-ADha prayer on Sunday.
He responded to the allegations of cracks in the People’s Alliance, an electoral alliance between the ruling AK Party and MHP.
“(Our alliance) doesn’t crack: We are made of rocks, not adobe,” Bahceli noted. “(Allegations) come from an origin of lies and sedition.”
Bahceli also emphasized that MHP stood by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the People’s Alliance.
Rumors of tensions between MHP and AK Party had emerged after President Erdogan’s visit to the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), a first by Erdogan in 18 years. CHP leader Ozel had also paid a visit to Erdogan in May.
The normalization process in Turkish politics between the ruling and opposition parties have left some actors unhappy, and they are trying to create rifts in the People’s Alliance, Bahceli explained.
