PodcastGov't turns down offer from coalition leader Bahçeli to ban party transfers for MPs
The ruling AKP has rejected the MHP's proposal to change the election law in an attempt to block parliamentary deputies' transfer to other parties. MHP leader Bahçeli last week suggested undertaking various measures that would make it harder for deputies to join newly formed opposition parties which pose an electoral threat to the AKP-MHP bloc.
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The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has turned down a request from coalition partner and far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli to ban parliamentary deputies from transferring to other parties, according to government sources.
MHP steps in to reinforce parliamentary wall against new parties to cover AKP's concerns on losing deputiesAfter Ahmet Davutoğlu and Ali Babacan, both longtime allies of President Erdoğan, left the ruling AKP and founded their own opposition parties, the Future (GP) and Progress (DEVA) parties, respectively, Bahçeli issued harsh statements regarding those parties and called for the banning of deputies who transfer to the newly-established parties.
“We personally agree with Mr. Bahçeli's approach but there is no need for such a law. Political morality cannot be established with laws. We have no initiatives with regards to this question,” said a member of the party who wished to remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, AKP Group Deputy Chairman Bülent Turan further corroborated this stance, telling the mainstream Habertürk channel that the AKP would not ban parliamentarians who transfer to other parties.
An announcement from the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) stated that the proposals made by the government and its coalition partner solely seek to benefit their own gains, and that the HDP had no desire to participate in the discussion.
Kılıçdaroğlu says several CHP MPs can quit and join DEVA, Future parties to secure their run in elections