Turkey’S Nationalist Party Launches Election Rally Series

- Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahçeli kick-started his party’s election rallies in the central Anatolian province of Çankırı on May 6.

In the MHP’s first election rally, Bahçeli focused on slamming the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for ill-governance of the state and President Tayyip Erdoğan for losing his impartiality ahead of the June 7 elections.

“The bribe-takers have been in government for 13 years. The thieves have been in a good mood and in comfort for 13 years… You know, they built a palace with the money that was cut from your elbow grease” said Bahçeli in Çankırı.

“[Erdoğan] is resorting to lies one after another to remove the current system. Even though he is the president, Erdoğan conducts politics just like the de facto co-chair of the AKP… Erdoğan has lost his impartiality. Erdoğan sees the June 7 general elections as a step, in his words as a ‘station’ to the presidential system” said Bahçeli, adding Erdoğan aimed for this with the help of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The Turkish government has been conducting a peace process with the imprisoned leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, to end three decades of conflict between Kurdish militants and Turkish army.

Bahçeli said a new constitution would be prepared after negotiations between Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Erdoğan, the AKP, Öcalan and Kandil (the by-word for the headquarters of the PKK in northern Iraq).

“Walk with us for social repair and a peaceful future” Bahçeli said, asking for votes from the residents of Çankırı.