Nationalist Movement Party

Nationalist Movement Party
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Name	Nationalist Movement Party
Native name	Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi
Abbreviation	MHP
Leader	Devlet Bahçeli
Foundation	9 February 1969
Founder	Alparslan Türkeş
Headquarters	Ankara
Ideology	Turkish nationalism, National conservatism, Euroscepticism
Position	Right-wing to far-right
International	None
European	None
Colours	Red, White
Seats1 title	Grand National Assembly
Seats1	50, 600
Website	https://www.mhp.org.tr/

Nationalist Movement Party. The Nationalist Movement Party is a prominent right-wing political party in Turkey, known for its advocacy of Turkish nationalism and national conservatism. Founded in 1969 by Alparslan Türkeş, a former military officer, it has been a significant force in Turkish politics, often serving as a coalition partner in governments. The party is currently led by Devlet Bahçeli and forms part of the ruling People's Alliance alongside the Justice and Development Party.

History

The party's origins trace back to the Republican Villagers National Party, which was renamed in 1969 under the leadership of Alparslan Türkeş, a key figure in the 1960 Turkish coup d'état. During the politically violent period of the late 1970s, its affiliated militant group, the Grey Wolves, were involved in clashes with leftist groups, contributing to the instability that preceded the 1980 Turkish coup d'état. Following the coup, the party was banned along with others, but was re-established in 1983 as the Conservative Party, later reverting to its original name in 1992. Its political influence grew significantly in the 1990s, and it entered a coalition government with the Motherland Party and the True Path Party following the 1999 Turkish general election. Since 2007, under Devlet Bahçeli, it has maintained a strategic alliance with the Justice and Development Party, supporting key constitutional changes including the transition to a presidential system.

Ideology and political positions

The party's core ideology is rooted in the Nine Lights Doctrine formulated by Alparslan Türkeş, synthesizing Turkish nationalism with conservative values. It strongly emphasizes the unity of the Turkish nation and is characterized by a Eurosceptic stance, often criticizing the European Union and opposing concessions on issues like Cyprus. The party holds a hardline position against the Kurdish nationalist movement, opposing negotiations with the Kurdistan Workers' Party and advocating for a unitary state structure. In foreign policy, it supports a Neo-Ottoman orientation, prioritizing Turkic world relations and taking a staunchly pro-Azerbaijan stance in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while maintaining a critical view of Syria and Armenia.

Organization and structure

The party is organized with a strong central leadership under its chairman, Devlet Bahçeli, and a powerful Central Executive Committee based in Ankara. Its youth wing, the Grey Wolves, has historically been a significant militant and organizational asset, though its activities are now more cultural. The party maintains a widespread network of local branches across Turkey, particularly strong in central Anatolia and among the Turkish diaspora in countries like Germany and France. It controls the Foundation for the Research of Turkish History and influences various civil society organizations and media outlets that promote its nationalist ideology.

Electoral performance

The party first entered the Grand National Assembly after the 1969 Turkish general election. Its highest electoral achievement was in the 1999 Turkish general election, where it won nearly 18% of the vote, becoming a coalition partner. Following a period of decline, where it fell below the 10% national threshold in the 2002 Turkish general election, it returned to parliament in 2007 after aligning with the Justice and Development Party. In the 2018 Turkish general election, as a key member of the People's Alliance, it won 49 seats, and it secured 50 seats in the subsequent 2023 Turkish general election, solidifying its role as a crucial parliamentary partner for the ruling party.

Leadership

The party's founding and defining leader was Alparslan Türkeş, who led from its inception in 1969 until his death in 1997, shaping its ideological foundations. Following an interim period, Devlet Bahçeli, a longtime party member and economist, was elected chairman in 1997 and has led the party since, overseeing its strategic alliance with the Justice and Development Party. Other notable figures in the party's history include Tuğrul Türkeş, son of the founder, who served as a deputy chairman, and current senior officials like Semih Yalçın and İsmet Büyükataman, who hold key positions in its executive committee and parliamentary group.

Category:Political parties in Turkey Category:National conservative parties Category:Right-wing parties in Turkey