MHP 'will not back' Erdo?an's presidential system

As Turkish national anthem is sung by 4,000 people before Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli takes the podium on May 14, young men and women raise their right arms to make the ?grey wolf? hand gesture - a mythological symbol of Turkish nationalism. Meanwhile, mine workers with yellow protective helmets chant slogans for more jobs and job security in this Western Black Sea coastal city, which is a major center of coal mines and also of mine accidents in Turkey.

The MHP wants to win at least one of the five deputies that Zonguldak will send to the 550-member Turkish parliament in the elections on June 7. Currently it has none. The province has three deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) and two from the social democratic main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP), which actually is trying the reverse the 3-2 balance. MHP officials hope they can attract enough votes from the AK Parti to make the situation at least 2-2-1.

The next stop yesterday for the MHP was Bart?n, where it won the last municipal elections in March 2014.

The last stop was the industrial town of Karabük, where the party hopes to send at least one deputy to parliament.

Two main questions face the MHP regarding its stance after the elections. If the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) manages to exceed the 10 percent national threshold, it would be almost impossible for President Tayyip Erdo?an to achieve his goal of shifting Turkey?s parliamentary system into a presidential one with reduced checks and balances through a constitutional change by AK Parti votes.

Under those circumstances, will the MHP support the AK Parti for a constitutional change to introduce the presidential system?...