MHP leader Bahçeli pleads Erdoğan not to leave Turkish nation ‘alone’ by stepping down at end of his term

Duvar English

Turkish ruling alliance partner, far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli on March 17 pleaded on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan not to step down from the office at the end of his term. 

His remarks came one week after Erdoğan said the upcoming local elections will be his last election “as authorized by law.”

Speaking during the MHP congress, Bahçeli said “As I learned from the press recently, a speech of our President was accepted as a great appetite, especially in the leftist circles.” 

“From here I say to our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. You cannot step down, you cannot leave the Turkish nation alone. We are with you as the People's Alliance. We want to see you as the savior leader of the new century,” Bahçeli added.

Bahçeli was re-elected as the MHP leader as the sole candidate of the congress.

Erdoğan had announced the upcoming local elections of March 31 would be his last ever elections, as the constitution limits the presidency to two terms of five years. Some critics said Erdoğan's remarks was to motivate AKP electorate to vote in the local elections and to point out the need for a new constitution.

Erdoğan’s candidacy for the 2023 presidential election was controversial, as he had completed two terms since becoming president in 2014. The AKP held that elections before the 2017 constitutional reform should not be taken into account as the presidency assumed a different role after the parliamentary system was abolished.

After Erdoğan’s remark, AKP deputy and former Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said Erdoğan could run once again if the parliament called for an early election.