Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahçeli has expressed support for a three-month extension of the emergency rule that went into effect in Turkey in the aftermath of a failed military coup on July 15.
“OHAL [emergency rule] is beneficial for our country; its extension for another three months will be useful,” he said on Thursday.
Bahçeli’s remarks came in support of a statement made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier in the day.
Speaking during one of his regular meetings with muhtars (neighborhood heads) at the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdoğan said a three-month extension of emergency rule will be for the benefit of Turkey, adding that extending emergency rule to even 12 months may not be sufficient.
Critics say extending the state of emergency will give Erdoğan a freer hand to limit or suspend freedoms and bypass Parliament as well as taking swift measures against his opponents.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ announced on Wednesday that Turkey has detained a total of 70,000 people and arrested 32,000 on coup charges since the failed military coup attempt on July 15.