İYİ Party announces end of main opposition bloc Nation Alliance after elections

Ceren Bayar / Gazete Duvar

In a recent statement, Bahadır Erdem, the Deputy Chair of the İYİ (Good) Party, stated that the main opposition bloc Nation Alliance was no longer viable beyond its role as an electoral alliance.

Speaking on June 1, Erdem emphasized that the purpose of the alliance had concluded with the end of the elections.

Six opposition parties came together a year before the elections to form the Nation Alliance, worked together in many areas such as drafting a constitutional text, and acted together in the elections by nominating Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as a presidential candidate. 

The social democratic main opposition CHP, nationalist İYİ Party, Islamist Felicity Party (SP), along with the Future Party and DEVA, which were founded by former Justice and Development Party (AKP) cadres, have experienced various challenges and fluctuations over the past year as they have endeavored to develop shared policies.

The leaders of the Nation Alliance came together for the last time on the evening of the presidential runoff. Following this meeting, all parties of convened their party boards and evaluated the election results. 

The İYİ Party also convened its executive board. Bahadır Erdem stated that party leader Meral Akşener put importance on the implementation of policies decided by their own cadres. 

Erdem stated that the Nation Alliance was an electoral alliance and added, "The electoral alliance ended at the end of the elections. This alliance was a union of forces to get the presidential candidate Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu elected. Political parties are natural rivals of each other, and they continue on their way.”  

Erdem as well emphasized serving with their own cadres and programs and said, “An electoral alliance cannot be expected as of today. It is not politically correct for Nation Alliance to continue." 

Another executive from the İYİ Party also said, “As a separate party, we will continue our work. Currently, there are no more issues for the Nation Alliance to cooperate on. If a need for cooperation in the 2024 local elections arises, it can be discussed at that time.”

In early March, Akşener announced her departure from the opposition Nation Alliance due to Kılıçdaroğlu’s expected candidacy for the 2023 presidential elections. She said that the CHP's Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş would be better candidates for the presidential race yet, she joined back the alliance and supported Kılıçdaroğlu. 

(English version by Can Bodrumlu)