MHP leader Bahçeli: The electoral system should be restructured.

19.08.2026 10:40

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, recalling that the transition from the Parliamentary System to the Presidential Government System took place in 2017, said, "In the upcoming period, the political parties and electoral system must also be reorganized with an approach that is in line with the spirit of the system, prioritizing political stability and democratic development."

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli made assessments regarding the current agenda for Türkgün newspaper.

Stating that they do not approve of the debates that began in the CHP with the "absolute nullity" decision turning into internal conflict and then fragmentation, Bahçeli said they want unity not to be disrupted, and that they have occasionally shared their experiences and offered advice. He spoke as follows:

"However, at this point, Mr. Özgür and his friends have founded the 'NEW Party'. According to Supreme Court records, they increased the number of political parties by one, becoming the 190th party. Although we do not approve of the division of the CHP, we wished them and their party success. Undoubtedly, we consider every Turkey party that engages in politics with morality, principles, and dignity, and fights for Turkey and the Turkish nation, to be valuable. Furthermore, we hope that the corruption and irregularities that have caused the CHP to spin its wheels and overly occupied the Turkish public, as well as the intra-party conflict, will come to an end, and that this process will contribute to the clean politics and purification needed in Turkish politics.

We assess that stable, deep-rooted political parties will contribute to the institutionalization of Turkish democracy and politics, and to Turkey's development and progress. The main issue is the necessity of adhering to principles, standards, and ethical values in politics; shaping the financing of politics and the responsibility of governance in central or local administrations with a transparent, accountable, and auditable understanding, and a participatory, inclusive democratic approach that expands the political sphere; and conducting politics on a moral ground that prioritizes national interests."

Bahçeli stated, "The failure to demonstrate a principle, a decisive stance, and a common will within the party's institutional framework regarding Turkey's most important issue such as a 'Terror-Free Turkey' has shown that the strong political institutionalization we desire has not yet been achieved in the 'NEW Party'."

Reminding that the transition from the Parliamentary System to the Presidential Government System took place in 2017, Bahçeli assessed, "In the coming period, political parties and the electoral system need to be reorganized with an understanding that is in line with the spirit of the system and based on political stability and democratic development."

Bahçeli stated that a "Terror-Free Turkey" will provide a new geopolitical advantage extending from security to the economy, noting that with the elimination of terrorism, investor confidence will increase, production capacity will strengthen, and economic and social life will be revitalized in regions previously associated with terrorism.

Emphasizing that the resources allocated for the fight against terrorism should now be directed towards education, health, agriculture, technology, employment, and infrastructure investments, Devlet Bahçeli said, "A Terror-Free Turkey is not only today's issue but also tomorrow's. We must convert the enormous resources that had to be allocated to the fight against terrorism for years into schools for our children, hospitals and care services for our elderly, irrigation canals and agricultural support for our farmers, rural development, technology centers and university investments and youth projects for our young people, employment and social welfare for our women, credit for our tradesmen, investment for our industrialists, infrastructure for our cities, roads for our villages, improvement for our pastures, and abundance for our fields. Permanently removing terrorism from our nation's agenda and transforming the resources consumed due to security necessities into a development campaign will be realized with a 'Terror-Free Turkey'."

Saying that a Terror-Free Turkey is the greatest legacy to be left to the youth, Bahçeli continued as follows:

"The most important social force that will shape the second century of our Republic is undoubtedly our youth. There are serious psychological and sociological differences between generations raised in the shadow of terrorism and generations raised in security, peace, and stability. Therefore, 'Terror-Free Turkey' is not only today's security issue but also the most important investment made in the future's human resources, social order, and development goals. I would like to remind you that our citizens who are now in their 40s have not seen a terror-free period in their youth. When we achieve the 'Terror-Free Turkey' goal, future generations will not face the dark and dirty face of terrorism, will not carry the same concerns, and will walk towards a bright future."

Recalling the hadith of Prophet Muhammad, "In unity there is mercy, in separation there is torment," Bahçeli noted the following:

"I warn those who try to poison the climate of brotherhood and those seeking political rent through provocations. I invite everyone to master their hands, loins, and tongue, in line with the principle of our Sovereign Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli. The greatest strength lies in transforming differences into unity. No approach that weakens brotherhood or turns sedition and division into a tool of politics will go unanswered, nor will it escape the discernment of our nation. It sees who serves common sense and brotherhood, and who serves division. When the time comes, it will look not at the shows put on, but at the intention and the result, and will hold people to account at the ballot box. Furthermore, it would be beneficial for our country, our nation, and even for themselves, if circles whose sole concern is their indigestion towards MHP, quickly escape the schizophrenic situation they are in.

Turkey is at the stage of permanently removing terrorism and all its elements from our country's agenda. This is an important opportunity and gain; it will not be squandered. In the coming period, politics and democratic institutions will come to the fore in a disarmed and terror-free Turkey, and social consensus will meet and strengthen with national unity."