MHP leader reiterates commitment to keeping eye on 'checks and balances'
ANKARA
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli reiterated on July 14 that his party will do its part to ensure the checks and balances mechanism is in place and works under Turkey's new executive presidential system.
“We have completed our preparations to actively participate in legislative works in order to carry out the task of overseeing the ‘checks and balances’ mechanisms, a task delegated to us by the nation. The MHP will execute this duty thoroughly,” Bahçeli said in a press meeting in Ankara, one day before the anniversary of the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt.
“On July 24, Turkey won, the Turkish nation, and our democracy won”, Bahçeli said, referring to Turkey’s twin presidential and parliamentary elections.
The MHP had formed an alliance, the “People’s Alliance’, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The MHP beat forecasts of almost all pollsters by garnering 11.1 percent of the vote in the June 24 election while the AKP won 42.56 percent.
Although the AKP fell short of retaining its parliamentary majority, the People's Alliance, which the two leaders vowed to continue after the elections, currently has parliamentary majority.
“This is a period when decisions will be made swiftly. In this process, when the state is being restructured, the MHP will fulfill its political, historical and moral duties. The Republic is much stronger under the new system,” Bahçeli said, adding that the People’s Alliance will set the course for the new system.
The nationalist leader also called on the U.S and Ankara’s western allies to hand over members of the the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) to Turkey.
“If the U.S really wants to normalize relations [with Turkey] and if NATO sincerely supports Turkey’s fight against terrorism. All FETÖ members in the U.S and Europe must be extradited to Turkey,” Bahçeli said.
Bahçeli also criticized the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) presidential candidate Muharrem İnce, slamming him as a "miserable man" who ultimately regretted his decision to criticize a general for applauding President Erdoğan during an event as election campaigns went on last month.
He also said that a general amnesty is still on his agenda.
“We will submit a bill on granting amnesty to parliament when it opens,” Bahçeli said.
In May, ahead of the elections, the nationalist party leader called for an amnesty for convicts excluding child abusers, murderers of women, rapists, and members of FETÖ and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
However, Erdoğan turned down Bahçeli’s call at that time.
Turkey's ruling AKP turns down nationalist ally's call for amnesty again
