İYİ Party holds first congress in Ankara

ANKARA

The İYİ (Good) Party, which is currently not on the list of the “parties to participate in elections” published by Turkey’s Higher Election Board (YSK), held its first extraordinary general congress on April 1 in order to fulfil a necessary condition for inclusion on the list. 

Meral Akşener was again elected as party chair at the congress, the theme of which was: “The good ones to win.”

In her speech to delegates, Akşener said people are currently “silent because of fear,” vowing that the İYİ Party will “destroy the wall of fear.”

“Today, our rulers have ruined the order of our country in order to establish their own order. There is nothing they wouldn’t do to protect their own future and their authority. Anyone who touches their authority is labeled as traitor and an enemy. The rulers of the country have delivered our shining youngsters to [the Fetullahist Terror Organization] FETÖ,” she added.

Akşener also blasted the government for “disrespecting” Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, at recent commemoration ceremonies of the Battle of Gallipoli, which lacked references to the country’s founder. She also criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his recent call to change the composition of Turkey’s national anthem “İstiklal Marşı” (Independence March).

The İYİ Party leader said the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was “fearful” ahead of the upcoming elections, which is what lies behind its alliance with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Akşener, who was once an MHP deputy, announced the foundation of the İYİ Party on Oct. 25, 2017. She and a number of other deputies were expelled from the MHP amid a series of disagreements with long-running MHP chair Devlet Bahçeli, who has sided with Erdoğan on key issues including the shift to an executive presidential system.

The AKP and the MHP recently announced a “People’s Alliance” endorsing the candidacy of Erdoğan for reelection as president and pushing for a legislative amendment formally allowing pre-election alliances.