Party sources spoke: Here is the behind-the-scenes of Bahçeli's 'MHP in the Legislature' statement...

The echoes of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statement, "Erdoğan in the executive, MHP in the legislature", made at his party's group meeting on October 6, continue.

In his speech, Bahçeli argued that AKP's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan should be a candidate again, and gave the message that MHP should increase its representation power and political weight in the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

The statement brought to the agenda discussions on possible task and power sharing in the People's Alliance for the upcoming period.

“NOT A REQUEST FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE ASSEMBLY”

Evaluating Bahçeli's words to BBC Turkish's Ayşe Sayın, MHP sources argued that the statement should not be read as a direct request to the Parliament Presidency.

Reminding that Bahçeli had not accepted ministerial offers in the past, party staff opposed evaluating the statement based on "seat calculations".

In the evaluations made within the MHP, it was suggested that there may be people within the party who want to be the Speaker of the Parliament, but Bahçeli's words point to a broader political goal than a request for a personal or institutional position.

GOAL: “BALANCE AND CONTROL”

Another prominent topic in MHP lobbies is the party's desire to create a more effective control mechanism over the executive by increasing its weight in the legislature.

MHP sources stated that there are criticisms within the party that the balance and control function is not operated sufficiently in the AKP's ruling practice. It is expressed that this deficiency sometimes leads to disruptions and wrong decisions in the state mechanism.

For this reason, Bahçeli's formula is not only about increasing the number of MHP's deputies; It is stated that it includes the search for a new role sharing between the executive and the legislature within the People's Alliance.

SUPPORT FOR ERDOĞAN, STRONGER MHP IN THE PARLIAMENT

According to MHP's approach, it is aimed for Erdoğan to continue in the executive branch of the Presidential Government System, and for MHP to gain a stronger and more decisive position in the legislative body.

In this model, the aim is for MHP to assume a more visible control and guidance role over the government's policies in the Parliament while maintaining the People's Alliance.

ACCOUNT TO KEEP VOTERS AWAY FROM AKP IN THE ALLIANCE

Another dimension of Bahçeli's rise is voter mobility.

It is evaluated in the MHP lobbies that dissatisfaction with the AKP is increasing, especially among retirees and low-income segments, and that economic developments may strengthen this trend. It is stated that concerns that the recent funding crisis may increase the tendency to move away from the ruling party have also been expressed in AKP circles.

MHP's plan is to ensure that voters who tend to break away from the People's Alliance switch to MHP instead of turning to opposition parties.

In this context, Bahçeli's formula "Erdoğan in the executive branch, MHP in the legislature", on the one hand, gives a message of support for Erdoğan's re-candidacy, and on the other hand, is interpreted as a sign of a new political positioning aimed at keeping voters who may move away from the AKP within the People's Alliance.