CHP, MHP to unveil election manifestos as Erdoğan starts campaigning

ANKARA

With four weeks to go to snap parliamentary and presidential elections, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will declare their election manifestos this weekend, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will hit the road for his election campaign rallies.

The CHP’s official campaign slogan will be “We’re coming for the nation,” while its logo will read “Enough,” Deputy CHP leader and spokesman Bülent Tezcan said at a press conference on May 25.

The CHP’s manifesto will be read out by party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who will also introduce the CHP’s candidates to run for parliament in the June 24 vote.

Tezcan said the CHP’s manifesto will be built on five main themes: Justice, education, the economy, social peace and foreign policy. It will highlight the abolition of the state of emergency as a priority and the establishment of an independent, impartial and fair justice system.

Reinstalling a strong parliamentary system to will ensure the separation of powers and effective checks and balances is also in the CHP’s manifesto, Tezcan stated. Measures to address troubles in the economy will also have a sizeable place in the manifesto, CHP Deputy Chair Aykut Erdoğdu said.

“Our election manifesto includes an economic model and all of our proposals will be part of this model,” Erdoğdu said in a separate press conference on May 25.

MHP to announce promises

The MHP, which is partnering with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) under the “People’s Alliance” in the election, will unveil its manifesto on the same day as the CHP.

The MHP’s manifesto will focus on economic issues and promises “seven percent annual growth.” The party will vow to exempt agriculturalists from paying special consumption taxes and value added taxes in purchasing needs such as oil and fertilizers.

The MHP also promises to issue a general amnesty for all convicts apart from those who have been sentenced on terror charges.

Erdoğan starts campaigning from Erzurum

Meanwhile, having already unveiled the manifesto of his ruling AKP, President Erdoğan will start campaigning for the upcoming elections from Erzurum on May 26. His next election rallies will be held in the western provinces of Aydın and Balıkesir on May 27. Erdoğan is expected to hold around 30 rallies until the date of the election.