Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Bahçeli told Erdoğan: “If you are really against coups and interventions in democracy, demand an accounting from the perpetrators of Feb. 28, who are known by all, before you deal with coup plots that have not yet been carried out. This will be test of sincerity for you.”
The military was behind the downfall of a coalition government led by a now-defunct conservative party, the Welfare Party (RP), in 1997. The intervention was dubbed a postmodern coup.
Bahçeli was referring to coup plots codenamed “Sledgehammer,” “Cage,” “Blonde Girl” and “Glove,” which all include subversive plans to foment chaos in the country and justify a military takeover. Judicial process is in progress regarding the military members who were involved in these coup plots.
Last week dozens of active duty and retired military members were detained as part of a probe into the Sledgehammer plot. The detainees included three retired force commanders, who were later released.
Regarding the release of the retired force commanders, Bahçeli said their release has raised skepticism about possible interference in the judiciary. “This sudden change of attitude among judicial authorities who have so far arrested suspects in investigations filed over similar charges has raised skepticism about the interference of some political circles in the judiciary,” said Bahçeli.
The MHP leader also reiterated his party’s opposition to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government’s plans for a constitutional reform package. Erdoğan recently said a reform package would come to Parliament by the end of March. Although he admitted the need for a change in constitution in Turkey, Bahçeli said the next Parliament, which will be formed after the general elections, should draft the new Constitution.
