Secularism in Turkey

The leaders of six Turkish opposition parties held their first meeting on Feb. 12 to discuss the results of an ongoing joint work to introduce a "strengthened parliamentary system" if they come to power in the next elections.

The ruling People's Alliance, made up of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) , has strongly criticized main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu who declared that he won't pay his electricity bills until the recent hikes are withdrawn.

The leaders of six opposition parties will hold their first meeting to discuss the results of ongoing joint work for the return to the parliamentary system if they come to power in the next elections.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has reiterated its loyalty to the People's Alliance with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as well as the executive-presidential system, its leader Devlet Bahçeli has said, underlining once again that the elections will take place as scheduled in June 2023.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has called for unity to overcome the "hard days" that Turkey has been facing recently.

"We are having hard days. We are going through difficult circumstances together. We will and we must overcome together; we must overcome," he said at the CHP's parliamentary group meeting on Feb. 1.

The leaders of three opposition parties have held an announced meeting to discuss the future composition of the Nation Alliance, as well as ongoing preparations over the main pillars of the road map for the return of the parliamentary system once they come to power in the next elections.

İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener on Dec. 13 said she believes that the presidential candidate of the Nation Alliance will be elected by the nation in the next elections.

"I do not know when the election will take place, but I believe that the candidate of the Nation Alliance will be the 13th president," Akşener said.

İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener on Dec. 1 reacted to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli over his remarks on Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş.

"We have got Yavaş's back; there are people of Ankara," she said, addressing her party's parliamentary group meeting.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Nov. 30 called on the government to take steps to ease the loan pressure on farmers and tradesmen.

"Agricultural Credit Cooperative is choking the farmers with 71 percent interest," Kılıçdaroğlu said, speaking at the CHP's parliamentary group meeting.

Turkey will not be defeated by currency sabotage or high inflation, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader has said, urging the opposition parties not to provoke the people for street protests on the pretext of economic conditions.