Turkey’s nationalist party launches election rally series

In the MHP’s first election rally, Bahçeli focused on slamming the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for ill-governance of the state and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for losing his impartiality ahead of the June 7 elections. 

“The bribe-takers have been in government for 13 years. The thieves have been in a good mood and in comfort for 13 years… You know, they built a palace with the money that was cut from your elbow grease,” said Bahçeli in Çankırı. 

“[Erdoğan] is resorting to lies one after another to remove the current system. Even though he is the president, Erdoğan conducts politics just like the de facto co-chair of the AKP… Erdoğan has lost his impartiality. Erdoğan sees the June 7 general elections as a step, in his words as a ‘station,’ to the presidential system,” said Bahçeli, adding Erdoğan aimed for this with the help of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

The Turkish government has been conducting a peace process with the imprisoned leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, to end three decades of conflict between Kurdish militants and Turkish army. 

Bahçeli said a new constitution would be prepared after negotiations between Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Erdoğan, the AKP, Öcalan and Kandil (the by-word for the headquarters of the PKK in northern Iraq). 

“Walk with us for social repair and a peaceful future,” Bahçeli said, asking for votes from the residents of Çankırı.