Noting that a lawsuit he filed against the MHP administration for unjustly expelling him from the party’s founders committee is still ongoing, Kemal İnandı, an MHP founder, said: “We elected Bahçeli. We made him the leader. Not only has he failed to make the party an alternative to the ruling power, but he has reached the limit of being elected five times according to the bylaws. We have chosen Mr. Yılmaz as a candidate to replace him.”
MHP member Yılmaz has already announced his candidacy for party leadership. In past statements he has accused the current MHP leadership of undermining the party’s main tenets, namely its allegiance to Islam and nationalism. This, according to Yılmaz, has led the party to lose votes particularly in largely pious eastern and southeastern Anatolia, paving the way for the rise of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in these regions.
İbrahim Faruk Evirgen, another MHP founder who told Bahçeli to “step aside,” during a press conference held in the name of the MHP founders committee, said he will support Yılmaz if he is able to enter the hall of the party congress. Speaking to Today’s Zaman, Evirgen said: “With the power vested in me by 18 of the 21 living founders, I warned Bahçeli to step down. But I do not plan to participate in the meeting to promote Yılmaz because I have not been authorized by the committee of founders. This is a decision based on ethical reasons. It does not mean that I have a negative view toward Yılmaz’s candidacy. My determination to support a candidate that will face Bahçeli is very clear. But it is still uncertain whether the candidate will be able to enter the congress hall. Unfortunately, there is this kind of attitude. The possibility exists that people with different views will be there, and even I, although I am a founder, may not be allowed to enter the congress hall. If I am able to enter the hall and if Yılmaz is able to enter the hall and stand in front of Bahçeli, then of course I’ll vote for him.”
Yılmaz is the owner of Yılmazlar Construction, which primarily does overseas contracting.
