MHP denies alliance with other parties

ANKARA

'The MHP will not seek alliance with any other political party in the upcoming elections. We will take part in the elections with our own candidates,' MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli said DHA Photo

Amid increasing rumors that opposition parties could form open or secret alliances in local elections to defeat the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader announced that his party would not collaborate with any other political party in the upcoming elections.

“The MHP will not seek alliance with any other political party in the upcoming elections. We will take part in the elections with our own candidates,” MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli said in the southern city of Antalya on Nov. 23 at a party meeting.

The March 2014 elections were of vital importance for Turkey’s future, the MHP leader said, adding that the local elections would be “a turning point that will allow the reshaping of Turkish politics. Results of the local elections would be a precursor of presidential elections that will take place in August 2014, according to Bahçeli.

Despite ruling out any prospective alliance with other parties, Bahçeli said that they would welcome mayors and politicians who in the past had served in other political parties.

All MHP candidates would make their utmost efforts to win the elections Bahçeli added, noting that they were eager to come to power in the 2015 general elections. Recently, reports suggested the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) were conducting secret talks for an alliance in the local elections; however, both parties immediately refuted the claims.