The “dubious” Istanbul election requires a new vote, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli said in a written statement on Wednesday, the Hürriyet Daily News reported.
“Even though the local elections are behind us, there is an increase in political disputes rather than a decrease. The mystery, doubt and suspicion regarding the mayoral election for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality are yet to be resolved. Foreign powers are working to cover up the unlawfulness that marked the Istanbul election,” Bahçeli said.
“Justice for Turkey should be served. The MHP supports a new election in Istanbul, and our calls for this are well known,” he added.
Turkey is worried about the country’s “unsolved issues,” Bahçeli stated, adding that the real source of concern is difficulties in focusing on the priority on the agenda, which is “fixing the corruption in the polls.”
The party leader also stressed that the last word and responsibility of “correcting the irregularities” belongs to Turkey’s Supreme Election Board (YSK).
“The more the YSK’s decision is prolonged, the more the speculation, disputes and arguments grow. It is a national expectation that rejections [to the Istanbul polls] are properly evaluated,” he said.
If the YSK’s rulings are made according to their conscience, the MHP will abide by the body’s decisions, the MHP chairman stated.
Bahçeli also denied claims about the MHP and its ally, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), growing distance from each other, noting his party’s continuous support of the “People’s Alliance.”
“Everyone should know that the ‘People’s Alliance‘ will not allow any traitors. Conspiracies and plots will be defeated by our alliance,” he said, adding that their alliance embraces every citizen of Turkey without discrimination.