Bahçeli urges his nationalist party to ‘re-conquer’ Istanbul

ISTANBUL

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The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has told his party’s Istanbul branch that they need to “re-conquer” the Turkish metropolitan.

Speaking in an event to mark Eid al-Fitr on July 29, Bahçeli said his party should reign in Turkey’s most populated city, which is currently held by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“It is not a fate that Istanbul is in bad hands [under the AKP],” Bahçeli said to his fellow party members during a ceremony at the Abdi İpekçi Sports Arena. “We need to re-conquer Istanbul. Take Istanbul. I believe you will wave the flag of three crescents over Istanbul again.”

Bahçeli also criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who scored three goals during an exhibition match to mark the opening of a new stadium in Istanbul.

“Don’t get hopeful on the pitch and do not stain Turkish sports. Don’t think that scoring three goals with some help will save you,” Bahçeli added, claiming that the presidential hopeful will not win the upcoming presidential election.

“Don’t mix sports and politics by wearing the number 12 jersey to refer to the 12th President [of the Turkish Republic]. I urge you [Erdoğan] not to get too carried away. Aug. 10 [presidential elections] will be the end of you. The Erdoğan era will come to an end,” Bahçeli said.