Talks to extend AKP-MHP alliance to 20 more provinces ongoing: AKP spokesperson

ANKARA

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Ömer Çelik has said that their alliance with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), called the People’s Alliance, may expand further to cover 20 more provinces for the upcoming March 31 elections.

“Our colleagues’ meetings for alliance in more provinces are ongoing. An evaluation is the case for 20 provinces. There is a common intention to hold a rally in [the capital] Ankara and Istanbul. The last decision will belong to the leaders. The target is that the alliance becomes successful,” Çelik said during a program aired on the national broadcaster TRT on Feb. 13.

The MHP previously said that it would not present metropolitan mayoral candidates in Turkey’s three biggest provinces, in a bid to support the People’s Alliance.

After their joint efforts to win the referendum to shift to a presidential system in 2017, the AKP and MHP formed the People’s Alliance ahead of the June 24, 2018 elections.