Nationalist Movement Party

Nationalist Movement Party
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Name	Nationalist Movement Party
Native name	Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi
Abbreviation	MHP
Leader	Devlet Bahçeli
Founder	Alparslan Türkeş
Headquarters	Ankara
Ideology	Turkish nationalism, Right-wing populism, Euroscepticism
International	None

Nationalist Movement Party is a right-wing political party in Turkey, founded by Alparslan Türkeş in 1969. The party is known for its strong Turkish nationalism and anti-communism stance, and has been a significant player in Turkish politics for several decades, with notable figures such as Devlet Bahçeli and Ümit Özdağ contributing to its development. The party's ideology is closely tied to the principles of Ziya Gökalp and Enver Pasha, and has been influenced by the Young Turks movement. The party has also been associated with the Grey Wolves, a far-right youth organization.

● History

The Nationalist Movement Party has its roots in the Republican Villagers Nation Party, which was founded by Osman Bölükbaşı in 1948. The party was later renamed to the Republican Peasants' Nation Party and eventually became the Nationalist Movement Party in 1969, under the leadership of Alparslan Türkeş. During the 1970s, the party was involved in clashes with left-wing groups, including the Turkish Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Turkey. The party's history is also closely tied to the Turkish coup d'état of 1980, which was led by Kenan Evren and resulted in the party being banned. The party was later re-established in 1983, and has since become a major player in Turkish politics, with notable events such as the 1995 Turkish general election and the 2015 Turkish general election.

● Ideology

The Nationalist Movement Party's ideology is based on Turkish nationalism and right-wing populism, with a strong emphasis on anti-communism and Euroscepticism. The party's ideology is closely tied to the principles of Ziya Gökalp and Enver Pasha, and has been influenced by the Young Turks movement. The party is also known for its strong stance on Kurdish nationalism, and has been critical of the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Peoples' Democratic Party. The party's ideology has been compared to that of other right-wing parties in Europe, such as the National Front (France) and the Alternative for Germany. The party has also been influenced by the ideas of Nihal Atsız and Reha Oğuz Türkkan.

● Organization

The Nationalist Movement Party is led by Devlet Bahçeli, who has been the party's chairman since 1997. The party has a strong organization, with a large network of local branches and youth organizations. The party is also closely tied to the Grey Wolves, a far-right youth organization that was founded by Alparslan Türkeş in the 1960s. The party has a significant presence in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, with notable members such as Ümit Özdağ and Meral Akşener. The party is also a member of the Alliance of European National Movements, a pan-European organization of right-wing parties.

● Electoral Performance

The Nationalist Movement Party has had significant electoral success in Turkey, particularly in the 1990s and 2000s. The party won 18% of the vote in the 1999 Turkish general election, and 10% of the vote in the 2002 Turkish general election. The party has also performed well in local elections, winning several mayoralties and municipal councils. The party's electoral performance has been influenced by its strong stance on Turkish nationalism and anti-communism, as well as its criticism of the Justice and Development Party and the Republican People's Party. The party has also been successful in the 2011 Turkish general election and the 2015 Turkish general election.

● Controversies

The Nationalist Movement Party has been involved in several controversies over the years, including clashes with left-wing groups and Kurdish nationalist organizations. The party has also been criticized for its strong stance on Turkish nationalism and its criticism of minority rights in Turkey. The party has been accused of having ties to far-right and neo-fascist groups, including the Grey Wolves. The party's leader, Devlet Bahçeli, has also been criticized for his comments on immigration and refugees, and has been accused of xenophobia and Islamophobia. The party has also been involved in controversies surrounding the Armenian Genocide and the Cyprus dispute.

● International Relations

The Nationalist Movement Party has been critical of European integration and has opposed Turkey's accession to the European Union. The party has also been critical of the United States and NATO, and has called for a more independent foreign policy for Turkey. The party has been a strong supporter of Turkish-Cypriot relations and has opposed the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. The party has also been critical of the Syrian Civil War and has opposed the Kurdish-led Rojava region in northern Syria. The party has been a member of the Alliance of European National Movements, a pan-European organization of right-wing parties, and has ties to other right-wing parties in Europe, including the National Front (France) and the Alternative for Germany. The party has also been influenced by the ideas of Vladimir Putin and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Category:Political parties in Turkey