'They say nothing new': Bahçeli slams six opposition parties' round table meeting

Bahçeli displaying a caricature showing the opposition leaders' meeting. the HDP, the Council of Europe and the EU are decpited as the "hidden legs" of the table. (Photo: AA)

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Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli, an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has criticized six opposition leaders' recent round table meeting.

"They don't have a presidential candidate, they don't have a strategic goal, they don't have the slightest plan for the future. They talked about how the seating arrangement would be for days," Bahçeli told his party's parliamentary group yesterday (February 15).

The six parties, including the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and their allies İYİ (Good) Party, have been in talks for the return to a parliamentary system for months. The parties are also expected to determine a joint presidential candidate.

"The intention to revert to the old is not reformism," Bahçeli remarked, adding that the opposition leaders could say "nothing new" after a five and a half hours meeting.

"They didn't even plan how they would transition to the 'reinforced parliamentary system'," he said.

The MHP leader also criticized the six leaders over their promise to "remain committed to the norms of the Council of Europe and the European Union," calling them "non-national" and "corrupted."

"Will they also remain committed to the Council of Europe's vicious views on terrorist Demirtaş [Selahattin, the imprisoned former co-leader of the HDP] and Sorosist Kavala [Osman, an imprisoned businessperson]?"

Bahçeli went on to say that the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which the ruling alliance accuses of being the "political wing" of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"The meaning of gathering around a round table is understood well now. If the table were square or rectangular, it would have four legs. But when the table is round, there is one leg; and that is the hidden leg, the HDP."

Energy prices

About the sharp increase in energy prices, Bahçeli said the government should take measures to prevent this.

"In our opinion, reasonable laments, legitimate complaints and justified demands should be listened to," Bahçeli said. "We especially have to prevent destructive price increases in electricity and natural gas."

Massive increases in energy prices have caused a backlash since the start of the year.

CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu said last week that he would not pay his electricity bill until the government withdraws the hikes. It was illegal and provocative, according to Bahçeli.

He said he had ordered the provincial organizations of the MHP to send candles to Kılıçdaroğlu.

CLICK - Turkey to increase energy assistance as Erdoğan dismisses protests over rising prices

(TP/VK)