Probability of coalition with MHP in Turkey’s local elections ‘looks positive’: AKP spokesperson

ANKARA

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AKP) spokesperson on Nov. 21 said a possible coalition in the local elections with opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) “is looking positive.”

Speaking to media in capital Ankara after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is the head of the ruling party, and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s meeting in the Presidential Complex, Ömer Çelik said: “I can say that we are in a positive position for collaboration [with MHP] in local elections.”

Çelik said deputy chairs of the two political parties will gather in the upcoming days to present their reports to the party heads on the possible alliance in the local elections.

“[It was] a very pleasant meeting. We are in a very positive spot in terms of collaboration in the local elections,” Çelik said, without elaborating.

Çelik also said AKP will unveil its mayoral candidates for Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir, as well as for 40 other provinces on Nov. 24.

After their joint efforts to win the presidential system of government referendum in 2017, AKP and MHP formed the People’s Alliance ahead of the June 24 elections.

However, the two party leaders have not yet agreed on collaborating in the local elections on March 31, 2019.