The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has launched an investigation into the Ankara 2nd Enforcement Court after it ordered the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to hold an extraordinary congress on May 15.
The investigation was launched after MHP Secretary-General İsmet Büyükataman filed a complaint to HSYK against the Ankara 2nd Enforcement Court Judge Burhan Yaz.
Since the Nov. 1, 2015 election, party dissidents have criticized MHP leader Bahçeli and collected enough delegate votes to hold an extraordinary congress to change the party’s leadership.
Former MHP lawmakers Meral Akşener, Sinan Oğan, Koray Aydın and Ümit Özdağ have already expressed their intention to run for the party leadership, but their attempts to hold a convention were stopped by party headquarters.
On May 15, the four lawmakers were prevented by police from entering the hall where they were to hold the extraordinary congress.
“They are trying to prevent us [from holding the congress] by police barriers and TOMA vehicles [water cannons]. … We kept records of all the injustices we suffered today. … The idealist movement cannot be hampered!” Akşener said in consecutive tweets she posted on May 15.
The MHP congress is crucial to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as current leader Devlet Bahçeli recently said he will support the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) instead of going to an early election, thereby supporting Erdoğan for a stronger presidency.