MHP leader Bahçeli hails ‘historic success’ in Turkey’s elections
ANKARA – Anadolu Agency
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli hailed what he described as the “historic success” of the “People’s Alliance,” in Turkey’s June 24 snap election.
Speaking to reporters in capital Ankara on June 25, Devlet Bahceli said the alliance of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the MHP had won the election with “honor” and left those expecting a crisis “bewildered.”
He also praised the high turnout in the vote.
“As of today, Turkey has officially moved into a [new] presidential system,” Bahçeli said, adding that the Turkish nation has seen its future in the new presidential system.
“We are witnessing the success and the rise of the people today with amazement. The will of the Turkish nation found its representation in the ballot boxes,” he said.
MHP now ‘key party’ in parliament
“They tried to destroy us but they failed. The Turkish nation has made the MHP a key party in parliament and gave it important responsibilities by delegating the task of monitoring checks and balances,” Bahçeli said.
“Our primary task is to contribute to finding solutions to the mounting problems. We will maintain our positive, constructive and reconciliatory approach,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan thanked the MHP leader, party members and its voters for the election success.
According to unofficial results, 99.92 percent of ballots have been counted, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the candidate of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the MHP, winning a combined 52.53 percent votes in the presidential race.
The ‘People’s Alliance’ also apparently secured a parliamentary majority with a combined vote of 53.66 percent.
The MHP beat forecasts of almost all pollsters by keeping its votes at around 11 percent, according to unofficial results.
The party is now forecast to have 49 seats in the new 600-member parliament, according to results that still require the election board’s approval.
In the previous parliamentary elections in November 2015, the MHP only won 40 out of 550 seats, which later fell to 35 amid resignations from the party and the formation of the İYİ (Good) Party.
MHP leader Bahçeli was the first political leader to suggest bringing forward the elections a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule on April 18. After parliament approved a bill on April 20, Bahçeli and Erdoğan declared they would enter both elections with the “People’s Alliance,” officially launched on May 1.
