MHP closes doors for minority and election governments

ANKARA

DHA photo

The nationalist party will back neither a minority government formed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) nor an election government pledging four temporary ministerial seats to the Kurdish-question focused party, its leader has said. 

“The Nationalist Movement Party does not favor a minority government. That would bring about a different dimension in regards to political ethics. There is no need to cast a shadow, to put a stain on Turkish democracy,” MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli told private broadcaster Star TV late Aug. 5. He said talking about forming a minority government would sabotage ongoing coalition talks between the AKP and the Republican People’s Party (CHP). 

A minority government under the AKP’s leadership was seen as a formula to carry Turkey to early elections this November. In the case the AKP cannot form a government by Aug. 23, an election government will have to be formed, comprised of the four political parties represented at parliament. The MHP is strongly against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) occupying any ministerial seats. 

“This is not a healthy solution, either,” Bahçeli said.  “They will give us four ministries and another four ministries to the HDP. Isn’t it entering the same well? If so, we have spent 57 years for nothing.”  

Bahçeli repeated that the best option still was forming a coalition government between the AKP and CHP.

“Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu better announce the formation of this government on Friday [July 7] after the Friday prayer,” he said, adding that the mandate will be returned to President Erdoğan should Davutoğlu fail to make a government.

“The remaining 26 days should not be wasted. Coalitions are made of compromise. The differences can be ignored and a coalition government can be based on issues the two parties agree on.”