MHP head says his party won’t support AKP-led minority gov’t

ANKARA

Cihan Photo

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has said his party won’t lend support to a minority government formed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), adding it won’t support a coalition government either. 

“Democracy is composed of both government and opposition. The MHP would have the role of the main opposition in the case a government is formed. We did not promise that we would support any government that would be formed,” Bahçeli told reporters July 17. 

Bahçeli met with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu July 14 and openly expressed his unwillingness to take a part in a coalition government. However, the two leaders agreed to continue talks in future phases of Davutoğlu’s efforts to form a government until Aug. 24. This had sparked speculation the MHP would lend support to a minority government formed by the AKP in the case the prime minister fails to build a government.   

Bahçeli denied this option and described such comments as the wishful thinking of some columnists and commentators. The MHP leader reiterated his party wants to keep out of a coalition government and this position has not changed. 

For Bahçeli, the best option is a coalition government formed by three parties, the AKP, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), as they have similar views about the Kurdish peace process. “They can form a strong government with 470 lawmakers. That would be useful for them to try this option,” he said.